Question:
Is the salathu jumah sunnah or fard to women? Are there any hadeeth related to this?
Answer:
In the Shafi’i School, the Friday prayer is not obligatory on women. (See: al-Muhadhdhab 1/109; Nihayat al-Muhtaj 2/285)
This is supported by what al-Daraqutni and others related,
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must perform the Friday prayer except for women, travellers, slaves, or the sick.”
Even though it is not obligatory, her performance is still valid. This is established by a consensus. In Minhaj al-Talibin, Imam al-Nawawi stated,
ومن صحت ظهره (م ر: ممن لا جمعة عليه) صحت جمعته (م ر: بالإجماع كالصبي والعبد والمراة) كما في نهاية المحتاج
“One whose zuhr prayer is valid, their jumu’ah prayer is also valid [al-Ramli: by consensus, like the adolescent, slave, and women.]” (Nihayat al-Muhtaj, 1/287)
There are various proofs pertaining to this. For instance, al-Bayhaqi related via a sound chain of transmission,
“Whoever attends the Friday prayer should perform a purificatory bath, be it man or woman.”
In this hadith, it is recommended that one who attends the Friday prayer perform the recommended ghusl; even when their attendance is not compulsory. Also, one may infer that a woman may attend the Friday prayer and her performing it is valid.
With that, it is recommended for elder women to attend the Friday prayer, with two conditions:
1. That she go out in her day to day work clothes.
2. That there is no fear of fitna.
Also, Sheikh ‘Ali al-Shabramillisi adds, when her husband allows her or when she is unmarried.
It is disliked for young women to attend (even if they wear loose clothing) just as it is disliked for them to attend all prayers that are attended by men, except for the ‘Eid prayers. (al-Majmu 4/405; Nihayat al-Muhtaj w/Hashiyah al-Shabramillisi 2/285)
Therefore, it is not obligatory for women to attend the Friday prayer. Nonetheless, if attended, the prayer is valid. A woman may not be counted amongst the number of those needed to fulfill the requirement of forty. Furthermore, it is recommended for old women to attend the Friday prayer, provided that the above stipulations are observed. And it is disliked for young women to attend.
Allah Ta ‘Ala knows best
Answered by: Sidi Mahmud Adams