Women and the Prayer

"There is no difference between the man's prayer and the women's prayer, " 
(Shaykh Bin Baz).

There are however, certain conditions/requirements that apply to women or 
issues that arise for the woman when she is performing the prayer.

There is No Difference Between the Man's Prayer and the Woman's Prayer

"...there is no difference between the man's prayer and the woman's prayer. As for what some of the jurists mention from the difference [in the prayer of the man and the woman] then there is no evidence for it..." Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz

The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said "Pray as you have seen me pray." "[This hadeeth]is a fundamental principle which generally includes everybody and the legislations are in generality for men and women except for when there is established proof making it specific. So the Sunnah for the woman is that she prays as the men pray in the rukoo' (bowing), the prostration (sujood), the recitation, putting the hands upon the chest and other than that. This is what is best, this is how to put them (hands) upon the knees in the rukoo', this is how to put them upon the ground in prostration either in level with shoulders or in level with the ears, this how you make your back level in the rukoo' and this what is said in the rukoo' and the prostration and after the rising from the rukoo' and rising up from the prostration and between the two prostrations. All of it is just the same as the men acting in accordance to his (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) statement: "Pray as you have seen me praying" [Reported by al-Bukhaaree in as-Saheeh.]"

Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Noorun 'alaa ad-Darb - Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat al-Mutanawwi'ah Vol.11.
Translated by Abu 'Abdillaah al-Kashmiree
http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/877

There are however, certain conditions/requirements that apply to women or issues that arise for the woman when she is performing the prayer and some are shared below:

Ameen, Athaan, Iqamah of Women

A Woman's Ameen, Athaan, and Iqamah
(All three links are to the same material, I'm just providing multiple links as over time, sometimes links get broken)
https://abdurrahman.org/2010/06/18/the-womans-aameen-adhaan-and-iqaamah/
https://alalbaany.com/2010/02/16/a-womans-aameen-adhaan-and-iqaamah/
http://qalbalikhlas.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-womans-amin-adhaan-and-iqamah.html

Towards the very end, it discusses where the woman leading other women should stand in relation to those she is leading.

The Iqaamah for women

Question: When the women gather to perform the prayer, do they make the iqaamah for the prayer?

Response: If they make the iqaamah, there is no harm in that. If they do not do so, there is no harm in that either. This is because the adhan and iqaamah are only obligatory upon the men.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah
Source

Are Women Required to Perform Adhaan or Iqamah
Fatwa 1

Source: AlIfta.net
Q:Are women obliged to perform Adhan (call to Prayer) or Iqamah (call to start the Prayer) at the time of Salah (Prayer)?

A:Men are obliged to perform Adhan and Iqamah. This is Mashru` (Islamically permissible) for them, even if the man is alone, because Adhan and Iqamah are a collective obligation on a group of people - that is, if one of them performs it, the others are excused from this obligation. If one man performs Adhan and Iqamah, this will be enough. There was controversy concerning their obligation on one man as well as the person who should perform them, if it is only one man who should perform Adhan and Iqamah. As for women, they are not obliged to perform either Adhan or Iqamah, as the matter of calling to congregational Prayer is related to men only,as well as that of informing the people of the times of Prayers. Women perform Salah at home, and are not obliged to that matter. We mean that women are not obliged to perform Adhan or Iqamah. They should start Salah with Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") and perform it in the way men do. However, women are not obliged to perform Adhan or Iqamah because there is no evidence on this matter.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah

Q: “Does a woman raise her voice when saying ‘aameen’ during prayer, and does she also give the adhaan and iqaamah?”

Shaikh al-Albaani:

“If she is praying with women, then yes she raises her voice when saying ‘aameen,’ but if she is praying with men who are not her mahram, then no. Because I do not say that the voice of a woman is `awrah, as many say, since the Mothers of the believers and the wives of the Companions from the early times used to speak and discuss with men. And often times the woman would come to the Prophet ﷺ and ask him something in front of the men, and he ﷺ would answer her question. But(here), it is not from the etiquette of a woman to raise her voice when reciting the Qur.aan. We are often asked if it is permissible for a woman – when she is learning the recitation from a Shaikh, a Muqri – to repeat the recitation to him so that he may correct her. The answer is no. Although she learns, her learning is restricted to listening only, like the women of all the Companions learned from the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ by listening to his recitation during prayer or outside of prayer.

If a woman prays with women while she is the imaam, she raises her voice and the women behind her also raise their voices. That is due to his ﷺ statement: ‘Indeed women are the counterparts of men’[1] i.e. every ruling in which the men are being addressed, the women are also included in this address, except that which is made an exception. For example, it is best for a woman, in other than the taraaweeh prayer – please pay attention – in other than the taraaweeh prayer, to pray in her house, whereas it is obligatory upon a man to pray the five prayers in the masjid with the congregation. So here, the woman is not like the man. But the fundamental principle is as he ﷺ said: ‘Indeed women are the counterparts of men.’

So if a woman leads women in prayer as an imaam, she does just as a man would do as an imaam.

Firstly: she raises her voice when reciting and when saying ‘aameen,’ and the women behind her also raise their voices when saying ‘aameen.’

Secondly: not only does the woman lead women in prayer as an imaam, indeed she gives the adhaan and iqaamah too. Why? Because of the previous hadeeth: ‘Indeed women are the counterparts of men.’ Moreover, Aa.ishah – the Mother of the believers and the foremost of the Mothers of the believers in fiqh, knowledge and da`wah, may Allaah bless her and her father – used to give theadhaan and iqaamah when she led women in prayer as an imaam.

Shaykh al-Albaani

https://abdurrahman.org/2010/06/18/the-womans-aameen-adhaan-and-iqaamah/

Clothing for Prayer

Dress of a Woman in Prayer - Shaykh Albaani

Women Covering Feet in Prayer

Q: “Should a woman cover her feet when she prays?”
Shaikh al-Albaani:

“It is not permissible for her to pray with her feet uncovered, indeed it is not allowed for her to walk in the streets with her feet uncovered, because the feet are part of the `awrah of a woman based on Allaah’s (`azza wa jal) Saying: {And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment}.[1] The woman during the Days of Ignorance used to wear what is known in the Arabic language as khalkhaal (anklet), meaning a bracelet with small bells. So when the woman walked, she in order to turn the men’s attention to her would strike the ground with her feet so the anklet would make a noise and the men would hear that; and such was due to shaitaan`s whisperings to her.

This means that the feet used to be covered. Because of what? Because of the jilbaab that the women were commanded to cast down from over their heads, according to Allaah’s Saying: {O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments (jilbaabs) close upon themselves}.[2] And it is mentioned in the authentic hadeeth that the Prophet (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said one day during a gathering in which there were also women: `Whoever drags his garment out of pride, Allaah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection. One of the women said: `O Messenger of Allaah, then our feet will be exposed.’ He (`alayhi ssalaam) said: `let (the women) lengthen (their garments) by a hand-span.’ She said: `Then a wind may come and uncover (their feet).’ He (`alayhi ssalaat wa ssalaam) said: `let them add another hand-span, i.e. a cubit, and not go beyond that.’[3] [4]

In this manner, the jilbaab of the Muslim woman at the time of the revelation of the above-mentioned verse: {to draw their outer garments (jilbaabs) close upon themselves} used to cover the feet since the socks that are widespread nowadays among both women and men were not widespread at that time. The woman used to cover her shins and feet with the long jilbaab that resembles the `abaa.ah. Therefore it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to uncover her feet while she is on the street, and it is even more impermissible for her to pray with her feet uncovered.”Source

The Ruling on a Woman uncovering her Hands and Feet in Prayer
Question:

What is the ruling on showing the feet and hands for a woman in prayer, bearing in mind that she is not in front of men, but in her house?

Answer:

What is well known in the Mathhab of the Hanbalis - may Allaah have mercy on them - is that all of an adult, free woman is Awrah in prayer, except her face, and based upon this, it is not permissible for her to uncover her hands or her feet, thought many scholars hold that it is permissible for a woman to uncover her hands and feet. But the safest thing for a woman to beware of that, although, if it happened that a woman did so, then she sought a ruling on the matter, no person should venture to order her to repeat her prayers

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 205

Wearing Forbidden Clothing Could Invalidate One's Prayer

Question:

A women uses particular clothing for prayer and it is clothing for men. Is her prayer permissible? Is this considered part of imitating men?

Answer:

If the clothing is something particular for men, then it is forbidden for her to wear it regardless of whether she is praying or is outside of the prayer. This is because it is confirmed from the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi-wasallam) that he cursed those women who imitate men and appear like men as well as those men who imitate and appear like women. It is not allowed for a women to wear clothing that are particular for men and it is not allowed for men to wear clothing that are particular for women.

However, we must understand the concept of "particularity". Particularity is not with respect to colour but it is with respect to colour and description. It is, then, permissible for women to wear white clothing as long as it is not the same as the white clothing of men. If it is clear, though, that women wearing men's clothing is forbidden, then her prayer in such clothing is not valid acording to those scholars who say that the covering in the prayer must be covering which is permissible.

This is a question in which there is a difference of opininon among the scholars. Some scholars say that it is a condition that the covering or the clothing that is in itself permissible. Some do not lay down such a condition. The proof for those who lay down such a condition is that the covering of the aurah [what must be covered] in the prayer is one of the conditions for the prayer and the covering must be something that Allah has permitted. If it is something that Allah has not permitted, then it is not considered a legal covering since it goes against what is commanded. The proof of those who say that the prayer is still valid while the person is committing a sin is that the women has actually covered herself and that the sinful aspect is something that is external and is not particularly related to the prayer. in any case, the person who prays in forbidden clothing is in a dangerous situation since her prayer may be rejected and not accepted from her.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women - Darussalam Pgs. 129-130

Performing the Prayer

Women Leading Women in Prayer

On the Imaamate of Women in Prayer

Discusses women leading other women in prayer, specifically in the house.
Women should stand in the middle of their first row and lead.

Praying in House vs. The Masjid

Fatwa 1
Source: Fatwa-Online.com

Question put to our Noble Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen after Salaat al-Fajr in al-Masjid al-Haraam in Makkah on Tuesday 27 Ramadhaan 1420/ 4 January 2000

Which is better for the woman, to pray in her house or pray in al-Masjid al-Haraam (Makkah)?

The Noble Shaykh (hafitha-hullaah) briefly responded by saying it is better for the woman to pray in her house for that which is mentioned in the hadeeth:

((Do not prevent your women from going to the masaajid, however, their homes are better for them)).

The word masaajid (plural of masjid) encompasses all the masaajid inclusive of al-Masjid al-Haraam in Makkah, al-Masjid an-Nabawee in Madeenah and al-Masjid al-Aqsaa in al-Quds (Jerusalem). Therefore based upon this hadeeth it is clear that it is better for a woman to pray in her home.


Fatwa 2
Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to pray in a masjid in these (present) times?

Answer:
Yes it is permissible for the woman to pray in a masjid in these (present) times. The messenger of Allaah said “Do not prevent the female slaves of Allaah from the masaajid of Allaah.” And he said “The best row for the men is the first row and the worst is the last one. And the best row for the woman is the last one and the worst is the first one”
Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Fataawa Mar’atul Muslimah Pg. 124 (Daar al-Ghad al-Jadeed)
Translated by Umm Ibraheem Bint Ameen

Fatwa 3
Source: Fatwa-Online.com

Ruling concerning women using incense when they are going to the mosque

Question: During Ramadhaan, some women use incense in the mosque. We advised them to stop but to no avail. We want from you, dear Shaykh, to make this issue clear to them and to us.

Response: It is not allowed for women to use incense when they go out to the mosque or inside the mosque. This is because they become a temptation, then, when they return to their homes. It has been authentically reported from the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he prohibited women from using any kind of perfume when leaving their house to go to the mosque. He said, ((Any woman who has incense over her should not attend the 'Ishaa. Prayer with us)). The same applies to them using such fragrances in the mosque because then they go outside to the market while being scented. The same is the ruling for their using it when they go some place other than the mosque.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah

Disruptions During Prayer

Doorbell rings while I am praying

Question: If I am praying and somebody rings the doorbell, and nobody is in the house except me, what shall I do?

Response: If the prayer is a voluntary prayer, the matter is much easier as there is nothing from preventing you from stopping your prayer and seeing who is at the door. However, if it is an obligatory prayer, then you should not rush your prayer unless it is something very important that you fear will be missed. If possible, you may alert the person at the door that you are busy in prayer, by saying subhanAllaah for men or clapping for women, that would be sufficient. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said, "If anything happens to someone during the prayer, the men should say subhanAllaah and the women should clap." If you can make it clear to the one at the door that you are in prayer, by the man saying subhaan-Allaah and the woman clapping then you should do that. However, if that will not help because the door is far away and the person will not hear you, then there is no harm in you breaking off the prayer, in particular if it is a voluntary prayer. If it is an obligatory prayer, you should only do that if it is expected that that is something very important. In that case, you may break off the prayer and then repeat it from its beginning afterwards.

And all praises belong to Allaah.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah

Delaying the Prayer or Praying Right Away

Source: FatwaOnline.com

Question: What is the ruling concerning delaying the 'Ishaa. prayer to a late time?

Response: The best act with respect to the 'Ishaa. prayer is to delay it until its last time. Whatever amount it is delayed is better. This is true except in the case of men. If a man is going to delay the 'Ishaa. prayer and by so doing is going to miss performing it in congregation, then it is not allowed for him to delay it and miss the congregation. As for women in their homes, the more they delay the 'Ishaa. prayer, the better for them. However, they cannot delay it beyond half of the night.

Fatwa 2
http://coveredpearls.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/ruling-on-women-delaying-the-isha-prayer-until-twelve-at-night/

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen

Fataawa al-Mar.ah

Q 33: Is it permissible for women to pray the ‘Isha’ (night) Prayer after twelve o’clock at night? Is it disliked to perform it at eleven thirty, for instance ?

A: The time of ‘Isha’ Prayer extends until midnight. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The time of ‘Isha’ Prayer extends until midnight. It is impermissible for women to delay the ‘Isha’ Prayer until midnight.

The length of the night varies, so if there are nine hours of night, for instance, then half of this is four hours and half, according to the time of sunset. If it is twelve hours, according to the time of sunset, then its half will be six hours and a half. After this that, it is not permissible for the sick or women to delay it until midnight.

As for men who are not ill, they are to pray with the people in the Masjid (mosque).However, if a man prays at home due to illness, he should pray before midnight and the same applies to the woman.

Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb

Source: Fatwa-Online.com


Question: When should a woman pray inside the home, is it after the adhaan (has been called locally) or after the iqaamah (has been called)?



Response: If the time (for the prayer) has arrived, then the women who are in the homes should pray and not wait for the iqaamah (to be called), rather, they should pray after hearing the adhaan (having been called) if the mu.adhdhin calls the adhaan (promptly) at the time of the prayer. And it is permissible for them to delay (the prayer) from its initial time of arrival, and Allaah knows best.



Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan

al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 3, Page 300, Fatwa No.443

Wudhu

Wiping the Head for Wudhu

Question:

Is the wiping of the head for the woman similar to the man? And what should she do if she has long hair? Does she wipe to the end (of her hair) and then return, or is it sufficient to wipe within the boundaries of the head of the man?

Shaykh Uthaymeen:

It is obligatory for us to know that the legal rulings are consistent between the women and the men, and the men and the women, except where proof is established that differentiates between the two; based upon this: It is prescribed for the woman to wipe the head just as it is prescribed for the man. Thus she places her hands at the front of the head then she wipes to the back of the head, then she returns them to the place she began; just as the man does. And it is not incumbent upon her to wipe down to the bottom of her hair rather she wipes to the bottom of her hair-line. Likewise if the man has long hair down to the shoulders, then it is not incumbent upon him except to wipe down to the hair-line only.

Wiping Over Headwear

Wiping Over Headwear - Bakkah.net

Does wiping over ones khimaar and turban replace wiping over the ears

1. Answer by Shaykh Al Albaani

Menstruation and Prayer

Prayer of a menstruating woman

Source:
Fatwa Online
Question: While I was praying, my menses began. What should I do? Do I make up the prayers of the time of my menses?

Response: If the menses come after the beginning of a time for prayer, for example, if you receive your menses a half an hour after high noon, then you must make up that prayer after your bleeding has ended since when its time began you were in a state of purity. This is based on Allaah’s statement, "Verily, the prayer is enjoined upon the believers at fixed hours" (an-Nisaa. 103). Do not make up the prayers you missed while menstruating. This is based on the lengthy hadeeth in which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said, "Is it not the case that when you menstruate, you do not pray or fast?" There is a consensus of the scholars that the prayers missed during menstruation are not to be made up. However, if she becomes pure [the bleeding stops] and she has enough time to pray one rak’ah or more of a prayer, then she must pray the prayer of that time in which she became pure. This is based on the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) "Whoever catches one rak’ah of the ‘Asr Prayer before sunset has caught the ‘Asr Prayer." If the woman becomes pure during the time of ‘Asr or before sunrise and there is enough time before sunset or sunrise to pray one rak’ah, then she prays ‘Asr in the former case and Fajr in the latter case.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

Completing Menstruation and Returning to Prayer

Question:
When a menstruating woman becomes pure before before sunrise is it obligatory upon her to perform the maghrib and ‘ishaa prayers? Similarly, if she becomes pure before sunset, is it obligatory upon her to perform the dhuhr and ‘asr prayer?

Answer:
If a mentruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunset, it is obligatory upon her to perform both dhuhr and ‘asr prayers according to the strongest opinion among the scholars.

Similar is the case if she becomes pure before dawn. In that case, she must perform the maghrib and ‘ishaa prayers. This has been narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Awf and ‘Abdullaah ibn Abbaas. This is the opinion of the majority of the Scholars.

Similarly, if a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunrise, it is obligatory upon her to perform the Fajr prayer.

And from Allaah is guidance.
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
From “Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women”, Darussalam Publishers and Distributors