Home » Hanafi Fiqh » HadithAnswers.com » It is best for women to offer salah at home

It is best for women to offer salah at home

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by HadithAnswers.com

Are there any authentic virtues in the Hadith for women to perform Salah at home? If yes could a few please be quoted?

Answer

1. Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said to Umm Humayd (radiyallahu’anha) who expressed her desire to offer salah behind Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) [in the masjid]:

‘Your salah in the corner of your room is better than anywhere else in that room, and your salah in your room is better than salah in any other room of your house, and salah in your house is better than salah in your local masjid…’

(Musnad Ahmad, vol.6 pg.371 and Al-Mu’jamul Kabir, vol.25 Hadith: 356)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared the chain of Musnad Ahmad as sound (hasan)

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 868)

2. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:

‘A woman’s salah in her room is better than her salah in [any part of] her house, and her salah in inner room is better than elsewhere.’

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 571)

3. The narrator of the above Hadith; Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu’anhu) himself is reported to have issued the following comments on this topic:

‘The best salah a woman can offer is the one in the depth of her home.’

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7696)

‘No woman’s salah is more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than the one in her own home.’

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7701)

‘A woman is closest to her Rabb when she is in the depth of her house.’

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7698)

In fact, he would himself chase the women out of the masjid by throwing small pebbles at them.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7699)

4. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu’anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:

‘Do not stop the females from the masjids, but their homes are better for them.’

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 568)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) comments on the reason for the above:

‘The reason for her salah in seclusion being better is because in such a case, she will definitely be saved from fitnah.’

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 868)

Another point to bear in mind on this topic is that whenever Hadiths that apparently allow woman to attend the masjid are explained, one will find the commentators always attaching strict conditions for this allowance. Almost all of them are unanimous on the clause of safety from fitnah (mishap/evil/sin). i.e, they are only allowed when there is no fear of fitnah.

In our era, we have undoubtedly been engulfed in fitnah.

5. Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu’anha) said:

‘Had Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) seen what the women of today (her era) have innovated, he would have definitely stopped them from attending the Masjid…’

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 869 and Sahih Muslim)

Interestingly, Both the forerunners in the field of Hadith, Imams Bukhari and Muslim (rahimahumallah) have quoted this Hadith after citing those narrations which allow women [with strict conditions] to attend the Masjid.

They both seem to be alluding to the fact that it is indeed best for women to remain in their homes for salah…

This is exactly how Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) also cited this narration.

It is extremely crucial for the masses to understand how these giants portrayed the Hadith, and not merely suffice on selectively quoting Hadiths out of context.

(See Shaykh ‘Awwamah’s booklets: ‘Min manhajil Imam Muslim’ pg.58-62 and ‘Hadhfu tarafim minal Hadith…’ for more on this important principle)

See another answer on this topic here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

Read answers with similar topics: