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Why women cannot hold congregation like men

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by DarulIftaBirmingham

Salam Shaikh I want to ask you that why women are not allowed to do Jamat like men

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

In the Hanafi Fiqh if a woman leads the salah of a female congregation, then salah will be Makrooh Tahrimi for women to form their own congregation. (Badaius Sanai p.157 v.1) In the Maliki Fiqh a woman can in no circumstance be the Imam even if the congregation be entirely female. (Ashalul Madarik p. 241 v.1) In the Shafi Fiqh a woman can be the imam of a purely female congregation. In fact it is mustahab for them to form their own congregation. (Al Mughni p.199 v.12) In the Hanbali Fiqh the salah of a woman behind a woman imam is permissible. (Al Mughni p.199 v.12)

The reason why it is disliked for women to perform their own congregation is because the performance of concealment cannot be found. Imam Baihaqi has mentioned a principle, which is the basis of the differences found in the Salah of males and females. He says, “The separating factor between the laws of Salah of males and females is that of concealment. A women is commanded to do all those actions which are more concealing for her.” (Baihaqi p.222 v.2)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk, which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.