Faataawa Series from the Scholars in Yemen
Verdicts for the Muslim Woman- Prayer
By the Imam Muqbil Ibn Hadee Al-Waada’i rahimahullah
# 97 Is the Athan legislated for the women to say?
Answer: No it’s not, but she should say the Iqaamah. The women’s voice can be a fitnah. Allah says,” …Be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just” (Al-Ahzab 32 ) Imam Ash-Shawkani and Sadeeq Hasan Khan both view that women should say the Athaan based on the general legislation for its purpose. However the correct position is that it’s not for the women to say.
# 109. When a woman walks in front of a woman praying does this invalid her prayer?
Answer: It’s apparent based on the general text. Nevertheless that hadeeth applies to the man when a woman passes in front of him. And the issue here is when a woman passes in front of another woman, and that isn’t included in the hadeeth. Therefore it is evident that this action doesn’t invalidate her prayer. And Allah’s help is sought.
#110. When a lady leads the prayer does she stand in the middle of the rank, or in front of the followers like the men?
Answer: It has been reported that ‘Aisha, and Um Salamah(May Allah be pleased with them ) that they both lead the prayer and both stood in the middle between other women in the rank. However the hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)states,”
“Follow me in prayer and let those behind you follow you”
”Also it has been reported that he prayed with his companions, and a woman came with a need and wanted to pass in front of them. Hence he got to the wall before she did .Then she passed behind him. The man prays in front of the people, and based on the general legislation about prayer the same goes for the women. This is similar to what’s found in the verse. “Establish the prayer and pay Zakat” (Al-Baqarah 43).The order for the establishment of prayer and payment of Zakah includes man and woman. Therefore it appears to me that she prays in the front of the women; as the men do. I advise my brothers to begin seeking knowledge with ‘Aqeedah first and then teach it. Look to the people whom you study from are they well grounded or not. If they are trustworthy and firm they convey only Sunnah, other wise be patient with them until they get well-versed and enlighten the people by admonitions from the Quran and Sunnah.
#111. When a man prays with his wife jama’ does she stand next to him like a man would or does she stand behind him?
Answer: When a man prays with his wife she should form a row behind him alone. The proof for this is found in the hadeeth of Anas(may Allah be pleased with him) ,”I prayed behind the messenger of Allah and the women stood behind us.” This is the sunnah. The women were Um Saleem and Um Anas.
#112. On a rainy day how does a person pray? Does he pray alone or does he gather his family and pray congregation?
Answer. He gathers his children and wife and leads them in Salah in his home. The men pray behind him. Then the women form a rank behind them. And even if there is only one woman she must still form an independent row based on the hadeeth from Anas(may Allah be pleased with him) ,”I prayed behind the messenger of Allah and the women stood behind us.” If a woman is by herself she forms a rank by herself. And if there is a man in the house he should pray next to leader of the Salah, while the women stand behind them and the same goes for the children. They should form a row behind the Imam. The children should pray in the same row with the man; as the one praying behind the man should be at the age of discernment. This is based on the hadeeth where the Prophet(peace and blessings be upon him said,”
“Let those of intellects stand behind me”collected by Muslim(123)
Hence the person behind the Imam should be at the age of discernment. Now as for placing the children at the end of lines here or there then there is no problem with this action. It isn’t a must for the men to be in one rank, and the children in one rank. Then behind the kids the women form one rank. It has been reported that the companions used do this during the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) lifetime. Meaning the men formed a rank, then the children behind them and subsequently the women behind them. However this hadeeth was reported with Shahar ibn Howshab in the isnad and he is criticized. The child should pray next to their elders based on the hadeeth previously mentioned. Ash-Shawkani said this hadeeth proves that the child should close any gaps in the rows. The hadeeth is when Anas(may Allah be pleased with him)said,” I and another ghulam (child) prayed behind the Messenger of Allah(peace and blessings be upon him)and the women were behind us. Ghulam can be used to refer to child under the age of puberty. Another proof for this is the hadeeth
” Let the person who recites the Quran best lead the prayer.”Muslim(673)
‘Amr ibn Abee Salamah said, I was considered to be the most well-versed and well memorized of the Quran while I was seven years old. Therefore they let me lead the prayer. So it is permissible for a young child to lead the prayer. It’s permissible for a young child to form a separate rank and Allah knows best. So if there is a man and a woman what do they do? The man prays in front and the woman behind him alone.
#120. Is it permissible for me to stop praying when my baby starts screaming?
Answer: No, you can’t stop your prayer just because he/she is crying loudly. However you can move forwards or backwards a little to grab the baby. You can pick him up and breastfeed him while praying. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed while holding his daughter’s son in front of him. And there is no harm in praying brief. The prophet(peace and blessings be upon him)said,
“Verily when I came to pray I intended to prolong it, but while I was praying I heard the child crying, so I cut it short. I am well aware that his crying is difficult for his mom.”(Bukari 516)
Or something similar to that hadeeth’s meaning. Don’t stop the prayer unless you see a poisonous snake near him, he fell and might have broken a bone, or he’s ill. And in these instances you can stop your prayer and with Allah is the aide.
#122. Does a woman have to perform Ghusl on Friday if she prays in the masjid or in her house?
Answer: It’s evident that Ghusl is a duty for the women. This is derived from the hadeeth
“ Ghusl on Friday is a duty on every adult”(al-Bukhari879)
“It is a must for every Muslim to perform ghusl once every seven days”(Al-Bukahri 896)
Taken from Fatawa Mura’ Muslimah lil Imam Al-Waada’i rahimahullah Printed by Maktabahtus San’a wal Athareeyah 2007 first edition.
