Fatwa ID: 03635

Answered by: Maulana Tahsin Alam

Question

What is the mufta bihi in the mas’alah of whether the imaam has to make niyyat (intention) for the female muqtadees or not? Is their salaah accepted if the imaam does not make niyat for them?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

The imām must make niyyah for his female congregants. Imam Shurunbulālī says, “And the intention of a man leading the prayer [of women] is a condition for the validity of women following him (in prayer).” This rule applies within every type of ṣalāh (including jumuʿah and ʿĪd prayers) except in the case of a janāzah prayer.[1]

If the imam did not make niyyah for the female congregants, their prayers will not be valid under him.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Tahsin Alam

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham