Eid Salaah For Women

[ummtaalib]

Eid Salaah For Women  

Question:

 

Is the Eid salaah and Jumu’ah salaah Waajib (compulsory) for women? Will they receive the rewards for performing it at home or can they not perform these salaahs at all? Are they allowed to attend the Eid salaah at the Eid Gah? Please explain in detail.

 

Answer:

 

The Eid salaah and Jumu’ah salaah are not Waajib (compulsory) for women. Maa Laa Budda Minhu (Pg.55) states that both the salaahs of Eid and Jumu’ah are not Waajib (compulsory) for children, slaves, women, Musaafirs and sick people. It is also not correct to perform these salaahs individually. It is a precondition for these salaahs to be performed in Jamaa'ah and for women to perform salaah in Jamaa'ah is Makrooh[1].

 

A More Detailed Answer:

 

Women receive greater rewards for being as inconspicuous as possible when performing salaah. It is better for a woman and more rewarding for here to perform her salaah in as secret and private a place as possible. Rasulullaah (SAW) said that for a woman to perform her salaah in a room of her house is better than her performing salaah in the courtyard of her house and for her to perform her salaah in an inner room of her house is better than her performing salaah just any room of her house.[2] Another Hadith states that for a woman to perform her salaah individually is twenty-five times better than her performing salaah in Jamaa’ah.[3]

 

It is true that women performed salaah in the Masjid during the period of Rasulullaah (SAW) because Islaam was still being taught to the people and laws were still being revealed. It was a blessed period of time and the best of all times. It was after this period that many evils started to emerge, because of which Hadhrat Umar (RA)  forbade women from going to the Masjid during his period as Khalifah. When the women complained of this to Hadhrat Aa’isha (RA), she remarked, “If Rasulullaah (SAW) had to see how women have started to behave, he would have surely forbidden them from going to the Masjid just as the women of the Bani Israa'eel were prevented from doing so.”[4]

 

The commentator of Bukhaari, Allaama Ayni (RA) reports that that Hadhrat Aa'isha (RA)  made this statement a short while after the demise of Rasulullaah (SAW). He (Allaama Ayni (RA) then added, “As for today (855 A.H.), we seek Allaah’s protection from it!”[5] If this was the situation in the 9^th century of Islaam, what can be said about the immorality and licentiousness of today’s women of Islaam’s 14^th century? Women can certainly not be allowed in the Masaajid. Fuqahaa have written that it is Makrooh for women to attend the Masaajid, even though it be for the Eid salaah, the Jumu’ah salaah or to listen to a lecture. This applies to even an old lady going at night.[6]

 

Hadhrat Shah Abdul Haqq Muhaddith Dehlawi (RA) wrote it is because of the deterioration of the (morals of people over the) times that it is Makrooh for women to attend the Masjid. He adds that women were permitted during the period of Rasulullaah (SAW) to acquire the knowledge of the Shari'ah, a purpose that no longer exists today because of the spread of Deeni knowledge.[7]

 

This ruling is general and applies to the Masjidul Haraam, the Masjidun Nabawi and throughout Arabia, India and everywhere else. It is in the interests of women’s safety and for the protection of their chastity that they are not permitted to attend the Eid salaah since it is not Waajib (compulsory) for them in the first place[8]. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

[1] Maa Laa Budda Minhu (Pg.35).

[2] Abu Dawood (Vol.1 Pg.91).

[3] Firdous.

[4] Abu Dawood (Vol.1 Pg.91).

[5] Umdatul Qaari, as quoted in Kifaayatul Mufti (Vol.5 Pg.392).

[6] Durrul Mukhtaar with Shaami (Vol.1 Pg.529) and Rasaa’ilul Arkaan (Pg.100).

[7] Ashi’atul Lam’aat (Pg.233).

[8] Maa Laa Budda Minhu (Pg.55-58).

 

[Arslan]

Masha'Allah, very nice answer.

 

Unfortunately many people cannot swallow this 'bitter' pill and will attack you if you offer it to them. 

 

Allaahumma arinal haqqa haqqan wa 'rzuqnattibaa`ah, wa arinal baatila baatilan wa 'rzuqnajtinaabah.

[ummtaalib]

Should Women attend the Eid prayer?

 

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

 

Respected Brothers and Sisters in Islam

 

There is a trend starting in various places to have Family Eidgaahs and women are being encouraged to attend the Eid Salaah.  

 

Those that encourage women to go to the Musjid and to attend the Eid Salaah, generally do so based on the narrations stating that in the time of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, women used to attend the congregational prayer in the Musjid and the Eid Prayer as well. 

 

In this regard, it is important to take note of the following:

 

Women in the time of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) were not prevented from going to the Musjid. This was primarily due to the fact that they had the unique opportunity of praying behind the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) Himself. That was an act that cannot be paralleled today. Secondly, they used to observe all the requirements of Shariah including those of proper covering (hijab), hence they were not prohibited from attending the congregational prayers. Despite this, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) still advised and encouraged them to pray in their homes.

 

Sayyida Umm Salama (R.A) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, “The best Musjid for a woman is the inner part of her home.” (Musnad Ahmad & Tabrani)

 

Sayyida Umm Salama (R.A) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said, “A woman’s prayer in her inner room is better than her prayer in the outside room, and her prayer in the outside room is better than her prayer in the courtyard, and her prayer in the courtyard is better than her prayer in the Musjid.” (Mu’jam of Imam Tabrani)

 

Sayyida A’isha (R.A) said, “If the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was alive to see what women are doing now (in that period of time), he would surely have prevented them from attending the prayers in the Musjid just as the women of Banu Isra’il were prevented.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

 

The renowned Hadith scholar and Hanafi jurist, Imam Badr al-Din al-Ayni (Allah have mercy on him) states whilst commentating on the above statement of Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her):

 

“Had Sayyida A’isha (R.A) witnessed what women are involved in the various types of innovations and wrongdoings these days, she would have been even more extreme in her preventing women from entering the Musjids…

 

Also the fact that there had not been a long time between her statement and the demise of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), and also the fact that women in her time were not involved in even one portion of a thousand of what women are up to these days.” (Umdat al-Qari, 3/230)

 

The scholars of Islam always considered this aspect of the fitna and therefore many of them ruled that women should not attend the Salaah, neither at the Musjid nor at the Eid Gaah (Musallah). 

 

After quoting the hadeeth regarding women attending the Eid Salaah in the time of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Imam Tirmidhi (R.A) has reported from Imaam Abdullah ibn Mubarak (R.A) and Sayyiduna Sufyaan As Thawri (R.A) that they considered it makrooh for the women to attend the Eid Salaah. Imam Tirmidhi (R.A) also made reference to the statement of Sayyidatuna Ayesha (R.A) that was quoted above. (Sunan Tirmidhi Vol.2 Pg.430 #539-40).

 

Hereunder is a short list of the scholars of the past who also discouraged/prevented women from attending either the five Salaahs in Masajid or the Eid Salaah:

 

Sayyidatuna Ayesha (R.A) (Sahih Al Bukhari)

 

Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Mas’ood (R.A) (Majma’uz Zawaahid)

 

Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Umar (R.A) (Musannaf ibn Abi Sheyba #5845)

 

Sayyiduna Urwa b. Zubayr (R.A) (Musannaf ibn Abi Sheyba #5846)

 

Sayyiduna Qasim b. Mohammed b. Abi Bakr Faqih Al Madinah (R.A) (Musannaf ibn Abi Sheyba #5847)

 

Sayyiduna Ibraheem Nakh’ee (R.A) (Musannad ibn Abi Sheyba #5844, #5848)

 

Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Al-Mubarak (R.A) (Sunan Tirmidhi #539-40 Vol.2 Pg.420)

 

Imaam Malik (R.A) (Umdatul Qari Vol.3 Pg. 305)

 

Sayyiduna Sufyaan As Thawri (R.A) (Sunan Tirmidhi)

 

Imam Abu Yusuf (R.A) student of Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A) (Umdatur Qari Vol.3 Pg. 305)

 

There are various other references that can be cited as well from the books of Hadith and Fiqh.  

 

Thus, based on the above, women should not go to the Masjid for Salaah or attend the Eid Salaah as it is strongly discouraged in light of the fitna that is prevalent. 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Taahir Hansa

Confirmation:

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians