Ladies programmes on Masjid premises
Question:-
There is an Aalima in our community who wants to host a ladies programme in the ladies section of our Masjid. This was built for Musaafir ladies to perform Salaah, and not for the ladies of the locality to perform Salaah. Will it be permissible to allow the ladies programme to take place in the precinct of the Masjid, even though the ladies facility is not part of the Masjid itself?
Answer:-
We are not in favour of ladies conducting their Taleem at the Ladies Salaah facility that is attached to the Masjid. We understand that the ladies Salaah facilities were attached to the Masjid to accommodate travellers that would be travelling with their families, hence, the females could use the Salaah facilities with ease, and depart with their spouses immediately after Salaah.
The ladies programme should be held at the homes of one of the residents where there is no presence of men. The time should be stipulated and the females attending the programme should be dropped off at the venue by a Mahram and picked up by a Mahram. The Apa conducting the lessons should have some expertise in the Masaa’il of Deen. She should be one that acts upon the teachings of Shariah and is desirous of making other females do the same. She should refrain from all forms of evil, indecency, Bid’aat, photography etc. These are some of the conditions stipulated for females that intend conducting programmes.
The Masjid is generally frequented by men. We do understand that a majority of the men frequent the Masjid at Salaah times. However, there are individuals or Jamaats that frequent the Masjid at other times as well. Similarly, many Masajid have the Imaams and Muazzins as residents on the Masjid premises. Now, if females also frequent the same venue, then there is a fear of great Fitnah, particularly in this day and age. Also, the Shariah has laid great emphasis on this matter to the extent that females are not permitted to attend the five daily Salaah at the Masjid, nor the Jumuah Salaah or Eid Salaah. When the Shariah has excused them from attending the obligatory prayers, then how can they host their programmes at the same venue? In conclusion, the ladies’ facilities should not be made available for any ladies programmes.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 09 Rajab 1444 / 31 January 2023