The Meaning of Restricting Women’s Going Out at Night in the Hadith

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: In the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), “If your women ask your permission to go out at night…” Does this hadith, which is reported in this chapter, indicate that it is prescribed for women only to pray the obligatory prayer in the mosque at night?

Answer:
If there is no harm in it. The night was specified because it is a place where harm is likely to occur, because it is a place where harm is likely to occur. Also, the night is dark, which is lighter than her going out during the day. During the day, people and open sinners see her, but at night, no one recognizes her. The female Companions used to attend and pray the Fajr prayer with the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and then they would leave without anyone recognizing them because of the intensity of the darkness. So, the night provides a covering of clothing.