Following the Imaam from ladies facilities on Masjid premises

Question:-

I would like clarity in relation to some masaajid that have ladies salaah facilities vs the response to ladies offering Salaah in their hotels at the Haram.

Many ladies Salaah facilities in Masaajid in South Africa have a distance from the Imam that is comparable to the distance (regarding a river or road) that is mentioned in the response to the question of ladies Salaah in hotels or other facilities at the Haram. Are the ladies Salaah facilities at Masajid here, therefore invalid as well?

Answer:-

It will not be permissible for females to follow the Imaam from such Salaah facilities that are located at a distance from the Masjid in a separate building altogther. If the female Musallah is attached to the actual Masjid (i.e. located at the rear of the Masjid), then the females may follow the Imaam from such a Salaah facility, with the proviso that the Imaam makes an independent intention for females to follow him in Salaah.

However, females should perform their Salaah at home. It is Makrooh for females to come to the Masjid for Salaah.

وفناء المسجد له حكم المسجد يجوز لإقتداء فيه وإن لم تكن الصفوف متصلة (البحر الرائق 635 ج1)

وَيَمْنَعُ الِاقْتِدَاءَ الطَّرِيقُ الْوَاسِعُ بَيْنَ الْإِمَامِ وَالْمُقْتَدِي وَهُوَ الَّذِي تَجْرِي فِيهِ الْعَجَلَةُ وَالْأَوْقَارُ وَالنَّهْرُ الْكَبِيرُ وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَجْرِي فِيهِ الزَّوْرَقُ (درر الحكام ص91 ج1)

وسمعت بعض المشائخ يقولون : الطريق الذي في الجامع يمنع الاقتداء لانه طريق عام (الفتاوي التاتارخانية ص268 ج2)

الا اذا صلي خلفه نساء فان اقتداهن به بلا نية الامام للامامة غير صحيح واستثني بعضهم الجمعة والعيدين وهو الصحيح كما في الخلاصة (الاشباه والنظائر ص73)

ويكره حضورهن الجماعة مطلقا ولو عجوزا ليلا علي المفتي به لفساد الزمان (شامي 307 ج2)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 25 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1444 / 20 November 2022