Is it better for women to pray in the masjid in congregation behind the Imaam or pray alone at home?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

Women are allowed to pray in the masjid. 

And they’re also allowed to pray at home. 

Both are allowed. 

However, GENERALLY speaking, it is BETTER for them and more REWARDING to pray in their homes, even if they’re praying alone. 

📌 PROOF:

When one of the Sahaabiyaat called Umm Humayd, radhi Allaahu anhaa came to the Prophet ﷺ, she said: 

“O Messenger of Allaah, I love to pray with you. 

He said: "I know that you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you than praying in your courtyard, and praying in your courtyard is better for you than praying in the masjid of your people, and praying in the masjid of your people is better for you than praying in my masjid." 

So she ordered that a Musalla (prayer area) be built for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she always prayed there until she met Allaah (that is, until she passed away).”

(Ahmad - saheeh al-Albaani)

Dear sisters, do you remember the rewards of one prayer at the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ?

According to the Saheeh hadeeth, it’s 1000 times more rewarding than praying anywhere else. 

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

 “One prayer in this Masjid of mine is better than one thousand prayers offered anywhere else, except al-Masjid al-Haraam.” 

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

The Prophet ﷺ was well aware that the Sahaabiyah LOVED to pray in his masjid. 

And he also knew the rewards of praying in his masjid. 

Yet, he ﷺ told the lady that her prayer in her home is BETTER than praying in his masjid!

Subhaan Allaah!

We too can get the SAME rewards of praying at the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ although we’re praying at home. 

How is that?

IF we make our INTENTIONS that we’re praying at home following the instructions of our beloved Prophet ﷺ and obeying him, instead of going to the masjid, then we will get even more reward than praying at the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ although we would be praying at home!

You see, it’s all about the INTENTION. 

🍃 As the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended.”

(al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

HOWEVER, if there’s a REASON that makes it MORE BENEFICIAL for the sisters to pray at the masjid, then it’s better for them to pray at the masjid in Jama’ah. 

For example, if she feels lazy with Salaah praying at home, or she has more khushoo praying in the masjid behind an Imaam, or if there’s a lecture or Khutbah where she’ll gain knowledge of the Deen, or if it’s Ramadhaan and she wants to pray Taraaweeh, or if it’s Eid Salaah, etc. 

In such similar cases, it is better for her to pray in the masjid, according to some scholars.

🍃Someone asked Shaikh al-Albaani about this issue and he said:

“It is best for her to pray in her house, unless there is a class or exhortation in the masjid from which the woman would benefit, then here the ruling switches: it becomes best for her to pray in the masjid. 

But if there is just prayer (in the masjid), then (her praying) in the house is better.” (silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor 4/2)

So certainly, women are allowed to go pray at the masjid and there are authentic ahaadeeth that tell us that women did attend the prayers at the masjid during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

But they were encouraged to pray at home. 

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Do not prevent your womenfolk from going to the masjid, although their houses are better for them.” (Abu Dawood - saheeh by al-Albaani)

Do keep in mind that when the Sahaabiyaat went to the masjid, there were certain conditions that they followed and we must do the same. 

For example, we must cover ourselves properly according to the rules of the Sharee’ah, 

there should be no ‘adornment’, no perfume etc. 

We should be behind the men while praying, there should be no unnecessary free mixing of the genders, etc. 

🍃Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray Fajr at dusk and then the women would leave immediately without being recognized because of darkness and they would not recognize each other.”

(al-Bukhaari 872, Muslim 645)

🍃She also said:

“Were the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ to see what women are doing now, he would have prevented them from attending the masjid, just as the women of the children of Israel were prevented from attending.” (al-Bukhaari 831, Muslim 445)

Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd listed the conditions for women to go out to the masjid and said:

“Women are allowed to go out to the masjid according to the following rulings: 

1. That there is no risk of them tempting others or being tempted.

2. That their attendance will not lead to anything that is forbidden according to Sharee’ah.

3. That they do not jostle with men in the street or in the masjid.

4.That they should go out not wearing perfume.

5. That they should go out wearing Hijaab, not making a wanton display of their adornment.

6. A door should be set aside in the masjid just for women to enter and exit, as mentioned in the hadeeth narrated in Sunan Abi Dawood and elsewhere.

7. The women’s rows should be behind the men

8. The best rows for women are those at the back, unlike the case for men.

9. If the Imaam makes any mistake in his prayer, men should say “Subhan Allaah!” and women should clap.

10. The women should leave the masjid before the men, and the men should wait until the women have dispersed to their homes, as mentioned in the hadeeth of Umm Salamah radhi Allaahu anhaa in Saheeh al-Bukhaari and elsewhere.”

(Hiraasat al-Fadeelah p. 86)

So my sisters, attend the prayers at the masjid if there’s some benefit. 

Otherwise pray at home. 

That’s better for you. 

And Allaah knows best