579. Can women lead other women in prayer?

By Asma bint Shameem 

Yes it’s permissible for women to pray together in Jama’ah if they are together. 

One of them can lead the others in Salah whether it is a Fardh prayer or Taraaweeh. 

*PROOF*:

Our Mother Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa used to lead women in prayer and would stand with them in the middle of the row.” (Al-Musannaf- Abdur Razzaq and Daraqutni)

Similarly Umm Al-Hasan narrated that she saw Umm Salamah radhi Allaahu anhaa leading women in prayer while she stood in the middle of their row.” 

(Ibn Abee Shaybah)

Umm Waraqah radhi Allaahu anhaa narrated that 

"the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) used to visit her at her house. He appointed a mu'adhdhin to call adhaan for her and he commanded her to lead the inmates (women) of her house in prayer." 

(Abu Dawood - Hasan by al-Albaani )

All these narrations are authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaani. 

And he said, after narrating these reports: 

“In conclusion, these reports are sound and may be acted upon, especially since they confirm the general meaning of the words of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam: “Women are the twin halves of men…” 

(Sifat Salaat al-Nabi, p. 153-155.)

The ulama said:

“It is permissible and correct for a woman to lead other women in prayer.” (Wilaayat al-Mar’ah fi’l-Fiqh al-Islami)

 HOW TO PRAY IN JAMA’AH?

You will pray exactly how you would if you were praying behind a male Imaam, except there are certain points we have to pay attention to. 

1. The female Imaam will stand in the middle of the first row with the sisters to her left and right. She will not stand ahead of them like a male Imaam does. 

Imaam al-Nawawi said: 

“The Sunnah is for a woman who is leading other women in prayer to stand in the middle of the row, because of the reports which state that ‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah led other women and they stood in the midst of them.” 

(Al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdab, vol. 4, p. 192)

2. Adhaan or iqaamah for the women?

There’s a difference of opinion among the ulama about this issue. 

Some allowed it and some didn’t. 

 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“It is not prescribed for women to say the iqaamah for prayer, whether they are praying individually or one woman leads the others in prayer, just as it is not prescribed for them to say the adhaan.”

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 6/84 

However ulama such as shaikh al-Albaani were of the opinion that it’s allowed for women to give the adhaan and iqaamah when they’re praying alone or amongst themselves based on the fact that Aaisha radhi Allaahu anhaa used to do that when she led other women in Salaah. 

But she should lower her voice so that nonmahrams may not hear her. 

(Silsilatul-Hudaa wan-Noor 697/3)

3. If it’s a ‘loud’ prayer, like Fajr, Maghrib or Ishaa, the female Imaam may recite out loud.

But if there are nonmahrams present, she may recite quietly. 

Ibn Qudaamah said: 

“She should recite out loud in prayers where it is required to recite out loud, but if there are any men present, she should not recite out loud, unless they are her mahrams, in which case she may do so.”

(Al-Mughni, 2/17)

. All the other rules of praying in congregation will apply, like you have to follow the Imaam, and not precede her, etc.  

CAN WOMEN LEAD MEN?

NO. Absolutely not. 

It’s NOT AT ALL valid for a woman to lead other men in the prayers even if they are her mahrams. 

NO ONE ever did that before and anyone who allows it is going against the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, the Sahaabah, and the consensus of the ulama of all the generations. 

And if any man prays behind a woman, his prayer is NOT VALID.

Imaam an-Nawawi said:

“Our companions are agreed that it is not permissible for an adult man or a boy to pray behind a woman… the prohibition on a woman leading men in prayer applies equally to obligatory prayers, Taraweeh and all supererogatory prayers. This is our view and the view of all the scholars from the earlier and later generations – may Allaah have mercy on them. Al-Bayhaqi narrated this from the seven fuqaha’, the Taabi’i fuqaha’ of Madeenah. It is also the view of Maalik, Abu Haneefah, Sufyaan, Ahmad and Dawood….”

(al-Majmoo(4/152)

And Allaah knows best