Ladies performing Salaah in the Haram of Makkah and Madinah Sharif
Question:-
Ladies are not allowed to perform Taraweeh Salaah in their local Masaajid. Having said that, are they allowed to perform Salaah in the Haramain Sharifain?
Answer:-
Just as a female shouldn’t attend the congregational Salaah in her local Masjid, similarly, she shouldn’t perform her Salaah in the Haramain Sharifain. There, too, she should perform her Salaah in her residence or apartment.
Below, we have reproduced a previous Fatwa in regards to women performing Salaah in congregation, particularly in the Haram of Makkah Sharif and Madinah Sharif.
There are many Ahadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam which encourages womenfolk to perform Salaah at home rather than attending the congregational prayers (in the Masaajid).
The Fuqaha do not deny the fact that women were permitted to perform Salaah in the Masjid during the blessed era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. However, we should understand that the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was termed as “Khairul Quroon”, which is translated as, “the best of eras”. Due to the presence of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, the Sahaaba (Radhiallahu Anhum) were protected from all forms of evil. Also, this was the golden era of divine revelation. Various injunctions of Shariah would be revealed. The womenfolk were required to learn the various laws of Shariah and they would have the honour of following none other than Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in Salaah. On various occasions Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would interpret dreams and explain such things that were absolutely strange and unheard of. Due to these reasons, women were permitted to attend the congregational prayer. Notwithstanding the above, attending the congregational prayer was not compulsory for women as it was for men. This can be explicitly understood from the Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, wherein Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam expresses his intention as to how he desires to deal with those men who discard their Jamaat Salaat without a valid excuse, “Had it not been for women and children in the houses, I would have established the Esha Salaah and commanded the youth to set the houses (of those men who discard the congregational prayer) alight”.
عن ابى هريرة رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لولا ما فى البيوت من النساء والذرية اقمت صلؤة العشاء وامرت فتيانى يحرقون ما فى البيوت بالنار
From the above Hadith, it is clearly understood that it was not necessary for women to attend the Masjid, and the women performed their Salaah in their homes as well as in the Masjid, as they were given permission during that benevolent era to come to the Masjid, as the following Hadith clearly indicates:
عن ابن عمر قال قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم اذا استاذنت امراة احدكم الى المسجد فلا يمنعها متفق عليه (مشكوة ص 96 ج1)
Ibn Umar Radhiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “When the wife of anyone of you seek permission to go to the Masjid, then do not prevent her (from attending the congregational prayer).”
In the commentary of the abovementioned Hadith, Sheikh Muhaddith Dehlawi (Rahmatullahi Alaih) states that, this refers to an old woman who had reached such an old age that she is no longer desired by men, neither does she apply any fragrance, nor does she adorn and beautify herself. He further states that in our times, it is Makrooh (detested) for women to attend the congregational prayers. During the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, women had attended the Masjid to acquire the knowledge of Shariah. This need and necessity does not remain any longer as the knowledge of Deen and the laws of Shariah have become widespread (i.e. knowledge of Deen is easily available in the form of literature, on the internet, Madrassahs etc.). Therefore, women should conceal themselves and perform their Salaah at home. (Ref: Mishkaat pg.96 Hashiya no.4).
Also, there are many other Ahadith which encourage women to perform Salaah in their homes. The Salaah of a woman in her home is better than her Salaah in the Masjid of her locality. (Tabrani)
عن ام سلمة رضى الله عنها قالت قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صلوة المراة فى بيتها خير من صلوتها فى حجرها وصلاتها فى حجرها خير من صلاتها فى دارها وصلاتها فى دارها خير من صلاتها فى مسجد قومها رواه الطبرانى (الترغيب ص188)
Ibn Abbas Radhiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “No woman performs a Salaah which is more beloved to Allah Ta’aala, than the Salaah that is performed in the most darkest and concealed portion of her house.”
عن ابن مسعود رضى الله عنه قال ما صلت امراة من صلوة احب الى الله من اشد مكان ظلمة (الترغيب ص189 ج1)
These Ahadith are quite explicit that women should perform their Salaah in their homes and, preferably, the innermost sections of their bedrooms.
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَافِظُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ : مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الزَّاهِدُ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَهْدِىِّ بْنِ رُسْتُمَ الأَصْبَهَانِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ الْكِلاَبِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ مُوَرِّقٍ عَنْ أَبِى الأَحْوَصِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ :« صَلاَةُ الْمَرْأَةِ فِى بَيْتِهَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَتِهَا فِى حُجْرَتِهَا ، وَصَلاَتُهَا فِى مَخْدَعِهَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَتِهَا فِى بَيْتِهَا ».)سنن الكبرى للبيهقى(
Salaah of a woman in her bedroom is superior to her Salaah that is performed in any other room, and Salaah that is performed in a chamber of the bedroom, is superior to her Salaah performed in the bedroom.
عن ام سلمة رضى الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خير مساجد النساء قعر بيوتهن رواه احمد والطبرانى فى الكبير (الترغيب ص 188)
In a Hadith of Musnad-e-Ahmad and Tabrani, Umme Salma Radiallahu Anha narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The best Masjid (place of Salaah) of the women is in the depths (inner room) of their homes”.
In another Hadith, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said,
وما عبدت أمرأة ربها مثل ان تعبده فى بيتها (طبرانى)
“There is no woman that worships her Rabb like the woman who worships Him in her house (i.e. no Ibaadah is superior than the Ibaadah that a woman makes in her home).”
Hadrat Umme Humaid Radhiallahu Anha told Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “I love to perform Salaah with you (i.e. in congregation).” Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “I know that you love performing Salaah with me but performing Salaah in your room is better than performing Salaah in the Daalan, and performing Salaah in the Dalaan is better than performing Salaah in the courtyard of the house, and performing Salaah in the courtyard of your house is better than performing Salaah in the local Masjid, and performing Salaah in your local Masjid is better than performing Salaah in my Masjid.” On hearing this, Hadrat Umme Humaid Radhiallahu Anha fixed the most inner portion of her home, which was most dark,for the performance of Salaah, and she continuously performed her Salaah in that specific area until death. (Ref: At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb).
In the commentary of the above Hadith, the Ulema have written that the women during the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had a great deal of desire and enthusiasm to practice upon Deen, therefore, she had fixed the inner portion of her home for Salaah and performed Salaah therein. Nowadays, the women listen to the Ahadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, read the various Kitaabs of Deen, and are well acquainted with regards to the importance of adhering to Shari’ee Purda, yet they do not act upon these injunctions. Firstly, many women have no inclination and desire to lead a life in accordance to Shariah, and as for those women that have some inclination, they follow Deen according to their whims and fancies and not according to Shariah. One will be rewarded for following Shariah and not for following one’s desires.
[Re:- Khawateen ke liye Shari’ee Ahkaam pg.102]
In a narration of Abu Daud Sharif, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The Salaah of a woman who applies Itr and attends the masjid (for the congregation prayer) is not accepted until she takes such a bath that is taken to cleanse herself from Janaabat.”
وفي رواية لأبي داود ، قال : «لَقِيَتْهُ امرأَة ، فوجد منها ريح الطيب ، ولِذَيلِها إعصارٌ، فقال: يا أَمَةَ الجَبَّارِ ، جِئْتِ مِن المسجد؟ قالت: نعم، قال: وله تَطَيَّبْتِ ؟ قالت : نعم، قال: إِني سمعت حِبِّي أبا القاسم -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يقول : لا تُقْبَلُ صلاةُ امرأة تطيبت للمسجد، حتى تغتَسِل غُسلها من الجنابة».
During the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, the rule was that women should perform their Salaah at the rear. Immediately after Salaam, the women would depart from the Masjid. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Sahaaba Radhiallahu Anhum would remain seated. They would only depart when the women had left. (Ref: Bukhari Sharif pg.119/120 vol.1).
Nowadays, Shari’ee Purda is not given any importance. The men are generally void of Taqwa and internal purification, women do not practice upon simplicity by wearing simple clothing. Generally women adorn themselves, apply perfume and leave the home. If they wear a Burqah, then the cloak will be a brand name or some designer-wear with embroidery on it etc. How can there be permissibility for women to attend the Masaajid under such circumstances?
[Re:- Re:- Khawateen ke liye Shari’ee Ahkaam pg.102]
Hadrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha states, “If Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had seen the mischief of the women (in this era i.e. post-demise of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), then he would have certainly prevented them from (attending) the Masjid just as the women of Bani Israeel were prevented.”
عن يحيى بن سعيد عن عمرة عن عائشة قالت لو أن رسول الله {صلى الله عليه وسلم} رأى ما أحدث النساء لمنعهن المساجد كما منعت نساء بني إسرائيل قال فقلت لعمرة أنساء بني إسرائيل منعن المسجد قالت نعم
(رواه البخاري ص120 ج1)
The era of Aisha Radhiallahu Anha was termed as “Khairul Quroon”, (the best of eras) yet she had remarked in the above manner. We are, perhaps, in the worst of eras (a time of Fitna and Fasaad with evil affecting us from all angles, and each day the Fitna seems worse than the previous), can we then encourage our women to attend the Masaajid? Aren’t we opening the doors to Fitna by doing so? Today we have the best of transmitters whereby womenfolk are able to listen to all the programmes and acquire the knowledge of Deen from the comforts of their home. Many Masaajid have obtained licences to have the Bayaans and programmes broadcast live on radio. Why would they go to these extents and spend so much of money if women were permitted to attend the congregational prayer and listen to the programmes live (in the Masaajid)? When women are prohibited from attending the congregational prayer, there is no question of them going to the parks, malls, functions etc. The system that we follow nowadays is strange, as the responsibility of purchasing the daily needs and necessities of the household seems to have been placed upon the women or, either the women have taken over this responsibility from the men, which the men should be ashamed of.
During the era of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, the women used to attend the Eid Salaah as well. However, this was not encouraged. Instead, women were prevented by their husbands from attending the Eid Salaah. The wives of the Sahaaba Radhiallahu Anhum would not attend the congregational prayer of Eid, as understood from the following Ahadith:
عن ابن عمر انه كان لا يخرج نسائه فى العيدين (مصنف ابن ابى شيبة ص234 ج4)
عن هشام ابن عروة من ابيه انه كان لا يدع امرأة من اهله تخرج الى فطر ولا اضحى (مصنف ابن ابى شيبة ص234 ج4)
حدثنا أبو داود عن قوة قال حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن القاسم قال كان القاسم أشد شئ على العواتق لا يدعهن يخرجن في القطر والأضحى (مصنف ابن ابى شيبة ص234 ج4)
حدثنا أبو بكر قال حدثنا جرير عن منصور عن إبراهيم قال يكره خروج النساء في العيدين (مصنف ابن ابى شيبة ص234 ج4)
Allama Shaami Rahmatullahi Alaihi (a great Hanafi scholar), has written that it is Makrooh for womenfolk to attend the congregational prayer even though it may be Salaatul Jumuah, or Salaatul Eid. This prohibition also applies to an old lady who desires to attend the Jamaat Salaah (congregational prayer) at night, due to the Fitna and Fasaad prevalent in our era. This is the view of the latter Ulema and the Fatwa is issued on this view.
Allama Kaasani Ramatullahi Alaihi elaborates further that, women leaving their homes are a means for Fitna, and Fitna is Haraam, and that which leads a person towards Haraam, is also Haraam.
ويكره حضرورهن الجماعة ولو لجمعة وعيد ووعظ مطلقا ولو عجوزا ليلا على المذهب المفتى به لفساد الزمان —-(شامى ص566 ج1)
ولا يباح منهن الخروج الى الجماعات بدليل ما روى عن عمر رضى الله عنه انه نهى الشواب عن الخروج ولان خروجهن الى الجماعة سبب للفتنة والفتنة حرام وما ادى الى الحرام فهو حرام بدائع الصنائع ص157 ج1
We now proceed to answer the specific query posed by you in your correspondence:
Regarding the performing of Salaah in the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah, we quote the following article by Sheikh Abdur Rahman As Sudaisi (one of the senior Imaams of the Haram), and thereafter, we quote the Fataawa of some of the senior Ulema in the Arab world.
August 14, 2012 at 7:38am ·
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ARAB NEWS | 14 August 2012
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, senior Imam of the Haram in Makkah and head of the Presidency for Two Holy Mosques, has called on all pilgrims and worshippers to uphold the sanctity of the two holy mosques. He also reminded women worshippers at the mosque that, it is better for them to stay in their homes if certain conditions for attendance were not met.
“We all must respect the sanctity of the two holy mosques, and respect each other and cooperate with one another,” Al-Sudais said while giving a lecture at the mosque last Wednesday. He said all believers must keep away from activities that violate the sanctity of the two holy mosques such as taking photos and chatting on mobile phones and women intermingling with men.
“Some women come to the Haram neglecting the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), applying perfumes, showing their beauty and without wearing Islamic dress,” said Al-Sudais, who is also an imam of the Grand Mosque.
He quoted a Hadith of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, “You should not prevent women from entering the houses of God (mosques), but homes are better for them,” indicating the Imam preferred women to stay at home without jostling with men at the Haram especially during this peak season.”