Fatwa ID: 07082

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Question:

Can a hanafi Imam perform salah leading woman in the congregation. What will be the conditions?

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

Answer:

The woman folk need to understand that their salah in the inner of their home is better and more virtuous than coming to the masjid. In the hadith Our Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم  said: Do not prevent your women from visiting the mosque; but their houses are better for them (for praying).

In such instances both views exist, however some fuqaha elaborate on adding conditions if the woman is coming out for salah. Young girls are discouraged and they allow only old woman. They should not wear anything attractive, no perfume and other conditions.

Once in the masjid, if she is performing salah behind the imam, then the imam should make intention in leading her in salah. If however the imam didn’t make any intention of leading her, her salah behind him will be invalid.

Therefore as for the questions, it is better the woman perform salah in the confine of her home, but if she is coming out to the masjid, she should dress modestly and the imam should specify his intention in leading her in salah if she is joining the congregation.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah Limvoonheek

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

لاَ تَمْنَعُوا نِسَاءَكُمُ الْمَسَاجِدَ وَبُيُوتُهُنَّ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّ ‏”‏ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawood hadith 567

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها: «أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي الصبح بغلس، فينصرفن نساء المؤمنين لا يعرفن من الغلس – أو لا يعرف بعضهن بعضا -»

Sahih Bukhari hadith 872

وَأَمَّا نِيَّةُ إمَامَةِ النِّسَاءِ فَشَرْطٌ لِصِحَّةِ اقْتِدَائِهِنَّ بِهِ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِنَا الثَّلَاثَةِ، وَعِنْدَ زُفَرَ لَيْسَ بِشَرْطٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ لَمْ يَنْوِ لَمْ يَصِحَّ اقْتِدَاؤُهُنَّ بِهِ عِنْدَنَا، خِلَافًا لِزُفَرَ، قَاسَ إمَامَةَ النِّسَاءِ بِإِمَامَةِ الرِّجَالِ، وَهُنَاكَ النِّيَّةُ لَيْسَتْ بِشَرْطٍ كَذَا هَذَا، وَهَذَا الْقِيَاسُ غَيْرُ سَدِيدٍ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَعْنَى يُوجِبُ الْفَرْقَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَهُوَ أَنَّهُ لَوْ صَحَّ اقْتِدَاءُ الْمَرْأَةِ بِالرَّجُلِ فَرُبَّمَا تُحَاذِيهِ فَتَفْسُدُ صَلَاتُهُ فَيَلْحَقُهُ الضَّرَرُ مِنْ غَيْرِ اخْتِيَارِهِ، فَشَرْطُ نِيَّةَ اقْتِدَائِهَا بِهِ حَتَّى لَا يَلْزَمَهُ الضَّرَرُ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْتِزَامِهِ وَرِضَاهُ، وَهَذَا الْمَعْنَى مُنْعَدِمٌ فِي جَانِبِ الرِّجَالِ، وَلِأَنَّهُ مَأْمُورٌ بِأَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ فَلَا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُتَمَكِّنًا مِنْ صِيَانَتِهَا عَنْ النَّوَاقِضِ، وَلَوْ صَحَّ اقْتِدَاؤُهَا بِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ نِيَّةٍ لَمْ يَتَمَكَّنْ مِنْ الصِّيَانَةِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ تَأْتِي فَتَقْتَدِي بِهِ ثُمَّ تُحَاذِيهِ فَتُفْسِدُ صَلَاتَهُ

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