What is the ruling on women praying in a prayer area where they cannot see the imam?

The questioner : The questioner says: What is the ruling on women praying in mosques where they cannot see the imam or the congregation, such as praying on the upper floor or the lower floor, or on the same floor but completely separated by closed wooden doors? What is the ruling on their prayer? And is it considered like their prayer behind the radio?

The Shaykh : The correct phrasing is: "And is their prayer behind the radio considered like their prayer in the mosque without seeing the imam and the congregation?" Because prayer behind the radio is not an established ruling, so it cannot be the subject of comparison.
Now, I say that it is permissible for a woman, and for a man as well, to pray in congregation in the mosque even if he does not see the imam or the congregation, provided that following the imam is possible. So, if the sound reaches these women in their location and they can follow the imam, then it is valid for them to pray in congregation with the imam because the location is the same. Since the location is the same and following is possible, whether through a loudspeaker or directly by the imam's own voice, it does not harm if they do not see the imam or the congregation. Some scholars have stipulated seeing the imam or the congregation only in the case of the one praying outside the mosque. If he is outside the mosque, the jurists say that it is valid for the follower outside the mosque to follow the imam if he sees the imam or the congregation. However, the stronger opinion in my view is that it is not valid for the follower to follow the imam in the mosque, even if he sees the imam or the congregation, if he is in a place in the mosque where he can pray. This is because the intended meaning of congregation is agreement in location and in actions.
So, if the mosque is spacious and a person can pray in the mosque, it is not valid for him to follow the congregation outside the mosque. But if the mosque is full and the one outside the mosque prays with the imam and can follow him, then the stronger opinion is that it is permissible for him to follow the imam and be led by him, whether he sees the imam or not, if the rows are connected. Let us give a clear answer now.
Now, first, if the follower is in the mosque, his following of the imam is valid in all cases, whether he sees the imam or not, whether he sees the congregation or not, because the location is the same. An example is that the follower is on the upper floor or the lower floor and the imam is above, or there is a barrier of a wall or a screen between them. Second, if the follower is outside the mosque.
If there is space in the mosque, his following of the imam is not valid, whether he sees the imam or the congregation or not. Why? Because it is obligatory that the location of the congregation be one. Here, it can be one, but he was negligent or unable and prayed outside the mosque. We say his prayer is not valid. The third case is if he did not find a place in the mosque and was outside the mosque. If the rows are connected, it is valid for him to follow the imam, even if he does not see him, because the connected rows are as if they are in the mosque.
As for prayer behind the radio or behind the television, it is not valid due to the lack of unity in location, the great distance between the imam and the follower, and because that exposes the prayer to corruption, as the electricity may be cut off, so no sound is heard and no person is seen. Yes.