The Woman prays in the Masjid unless she is sexually defiled or menstruating

Question :

Verily one of the Shaykhs in Tanzania gave a Fatwa (religious ruling) to the Muslims that the prayer of the women is not allowed in the Masjids. He said that they (the women) are impure and it is not allowed for them to enter the Masjids. This matter has caused discord among the Muslims.

Answer:

A person is not impure, whether male or female, living or dead. Thus, it is allowed for the woman to enter the Masjid, except if she is sexually defiled or menstruating. In this case, she should not enter the Masjid unless she is passing through it while taking care by wrapping herself for fear of letting blood drop (from her) in the Masjid. This is due to Allâh's Statement:
"Nor a sexually impure person, except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), until you bathe."

Also, the wives of the Prophet used to visit him while he was in I'tikaf (seclusion in the Masjid for religious devotion). Also, there was a slave woman in the Prophet's Masjid, and she used to collect the trash of the Masjid (to throw it out). The Prophet prohibited the men from preventing the women from (coming to) the prayer in the Masjid. He said:

"Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from (coming to) the Masjids of Allah."

And it is confirmed from the Prophet that he said:

"The best of the rows of the men (in prayer) is the first of them and the worst of them is the last of them, and the best of the rows of the women is the last of them and the worst of them is the first of them."

This was recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, At- Tirmithi and Ibn Majah. This explains the place of the women in regard to the rows of the men in the Masjid during the congregational prayer. It is also confirmed from him that he said:

"If your women seek your permission to go to the Masjid at night, allow them."

This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, An- Nasa'i and At-Tirmithi.

Fatwa was issued by the Permanent Committee regarding the prayer of the woman with the congregation in the Masjid, and this is its wording:

It is allowed for the woman to come to the Masjids for the Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer, and to offer other prayers in congrega- tion. It is not permissible for her husband to prevent her from that. And her prayer in her house is better. In doing so (i.e., coming to the Masjids) she must be mindful of the Islamic etiquettes. Hence, she must wear garments that cover her body parts and she must refrain from wearing transparent garments and garments that define the shape of her body parts due to their tightness. She should not wear perfume for her going out and she should not mix with men in their ranks. Rather, she should line up behind their rows. The women in the time of the Messenger of Allâh used to go out to the Masjids wrapped up with their cloaks and they would pray behind the men. It is confirmed from the Prophet that he said:
"Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from (coming to) the Masjids of Allah." And he said:
"The best of the rows of the men (in prayer) is the first of them and the worst of them is the last of them, and the best of the rows of the women is the last of them and the worst of them is the first of them."

May Allâh send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.

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