Answered by: Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza​

Question

Assalamualaikum

I wanted to ask if there is any restriction in Islam to have a women’s programme (bayan) in the Masjid after Maghrib Salah?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 

Answer:

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Do not ban the female servants of Allah from Allah’s masjids”[1]. Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every male and female. Despite this, there is concern that women should remain in their homes for fear of fitna and there is greater reward connected to praying at home[2].

Nevertheless, in the absence of knowledge, there is ignorance, and ignorance harms the individual, family and community, whether one is at home, outside or at the masjid. The prudent view would be to assess if there is such potential for fitna of mixing, or harm to their safety and honour which is impacted by distance, the safety at that time in the community, and with along with all these consider, to try one’s utmost to hold the event during the daylight hours.

There is no legal text that forbids women from praying or learning in the masjid, but there are legal rulings based on other conditions that are built on legal texts in relation to fitna which involves moral and personal safety. Many a household could have been saved if the knowledge that could save the husband and children came from the wife. At the same time, many homes have been ruined because of the laxity and negligence of the ruling related to segregation and safety of women.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham