In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Women's Prayer (In the Light of Ḥadīth)

1. It Is More Virtuous for a Woman to Perform Prayer in a Secluded Area of Her Home Rather Than in the Mosque

Ḥaḍrat Abū Ḥumayd al-Sāʿidī (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that his wife, Ḥaḍrat Umm Ḥumayd al-Sāʿidiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I desire to perform prayer with you (in al-Masjid al-Nabawī).” He ﷺ said: “I know that you desire to pray with me; however, your prayer in a secluded corner is better than your prayer in your room; your prayer in your room is better than your prayer in the courtyard of your house; your prayer in the courtyard of your house is better than your prayer in the mosque of your locality; and your prayer in the mosque of your locality is better than your prayer in my mosque.” The narrator says that Ḥaḍrat Umm Ḥumayd (may Allah be pleased with her) ordered that a place of prayer be designated for her in the farthest part of her house. It was kept dark (that is, no skylight or opening was made in it), and she continued to perform her prayers there until she met her Lord, the Mighty and Majestic.

2. Women Should Not Be Prevented from Going to the Mosque If They Observe the Prescribed Sharʿī Guidelines

Ḥaḍrat ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do not prevent women from going to the mosques, but their homes are better for them (for prayer).” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)

3. Women Should Avoid Coming to the Mosque During Daytime Hours

Ḥaḍrat ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Permit women to come to the mosques at night.” (Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī)

4. It Is Prohibited for Women to Go to the Mosque Wearing Perfume

Ḥaḍrat Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a woman who had applied perfume and was going to the mosque. He asked: “O servant of Allah, where are you going?” She replied: “To the mosque.” He said: “Have you applied perfume for this purpose?” She replied: “Yes.” Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Any woman who applies perfume and then goes to the mosque, her prayer is not accepted unless she washes off the perfume before going to the mosque.’” (Sunan Ibn Mājah)

5. The Prayer of a Woman Is Not Valid Without Covering Her Head with a Shawl or Thick Veil

Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The prayer of a mature woman is not valid without a shawl (or thick veil).” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī)

6. A Woman May Stand Alone in a Row

Ḥaḍrat Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “An orphan boy and I performed prayer behind the Prophet ﷺ in our house, and my mother Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) stood behind all of us.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

7. The Best Row for Women Is the Last Row, and the Worst Is the First (Adjacent to Men)

Ḥaḍrat Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best row for women is the last, and the worst is the first (that is, the one adjacent to the men); and the best row for men is the first, and the worst is the last (that is, the one adjacent to the women).” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)