Men and Women's Prayer
Question
Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. Is there any difference between the performance of salah of men and women, such as in standing or sitting, takbir or tahrima? How important is it to follow these rules if there are any such rules at all? If there are differences, why are they? Are they mentioned in the Qur'an? What are the differences IF there are any? Jazakum Allahu khayran. ( Question By Ola - Canada )
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, thanks a lot for your question, which reflects your care about the main pillar of Islam, Prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Islam has been built on five pillars: to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to perform daily Prayers (Salah); to pay the poor-due (zakah); to fast in Ramadan; and to perform Pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, if one is financially and physically able" (Al-Bukhari).
The general principle is that women are equal to men in all religious rulings because of the hadith "Women are counterparts of men" (Ahmad), except when there is evidence of a specific ruling that applies only to women.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following:
There are no major differences between men and women in the manner and method of performance of Prayer. If there had been such differences, then it is more than likely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have been silent on this issue. It is our understanding that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clearly and precisely spelled out for us the essential requirements of our religion.
However, there are minor points that have been cited by scholars as constituting a difference of some sort between males and females in this matter; differences are due to the physiology of women and their need for privacy and confidentiality in order to preserve intact their God-given dignity and honor.
1. While in ruku` (bowing) a man is to stretch out his arms slightly on his sides. Women, however, are exempt from this requirement, as they are supposed to close them in as reported by `A'ishah.
2. In sujud (prostrating), while men are supposed to distance their tummy from their thighs and stretch out their arms slightly, women, again, are supposed to close them.
There are some other points cited in the works of fiqh. There is no consensus among jurists and scholars regarding them, so they are at best controversial. The reason for this is a lack of any firm support in the authentic sources.
May Allah grant us all the wisdom to keep the pristine purity of the Islamic acts of worship without any tampering and interference by whimsical human opinions. Ameen.
Question
Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. Is there any difference between the performance of salah of men and women, such as in standing or sitting, takbir or tahrima? How important is it to follow these rules if there are any such rules at all? If there are differences, why are they? Are they mentioned in the Qur'an? What are the differences IF there are any? Jazakum Allahu khayran. ( Question By Ola - Canada )
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, thanks a lot for your question, which reflects your care about the main pillar of Islam, Prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Islam has been built on five pillars: to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to perform daily Prayers (Salah); to pay the poor-due (zakah); to fast in Ramadan; and to perform Pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, if one is financially and physically able" (Al-Bukhari).
The general principle is that women are equal to men in all religious rulings because of the hadith "Women are counterparts of men" (Ahmad), except when there is evidence of a specific ruling that applies only to women.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following:
There are no major differences between men and women in the manner and method of performance of Prayer. If there had been such differences, then it is more than likely that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have been silent on this issue. It is our understanding that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clearly and precisely spelled out for us the essential requirements of our religion.
However, there are minor points that have been cited by scholars as constituting a difference of some sort between males and females in this matter; differences are due to the physiology of women and their need for privacy and confidentiality in order to preserve intact their God-given dignity and honor.
1. While in ruku` (bowing) a man is to stretch out his arms slightly on his sides. Women, however, are exempt from this requirement, as they are supposed to close them in as reported by `A'ishah.
2. In sujud (prostrating), while men are supposed to distance their tummy from their thighs and stretch out their arms slightly, women, again, are supposed to close them.
There are some other points cited in the works of fiqh. There is no consensus among jurists and scholars regarding them, so they are at best controversial. The reason for this is a lack of any firm support in the authentic sources.
May Allah grant us all the wisdom to keep the pristine purity of the Islamic acts of worship without any tampering and interference by whimsical human opinions. Ameen.
