What is the ruling on the Friday prayer for a woman?
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The questioner : Is there anything in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that confirms the statement of the scholars of this era that a woman’s prayer on Friday is not permissible and that she must pray the midday prayer? Is there anything of the Sunnah present in this, I mean?
The Shaykh : Never. The woman in this matter is like the traveler; neither of them is obligated to pray the Friday prayer. However, if she prays it, the obligation of the time is lifted from her. Is the answer clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The traveler is not obligated to pray the Friday prayer; he must pray the midday prayer. But if he prays the Friday prayer, the obligation of the midday prayer is lifted from him. The woman is likewise not obligated to pray the Friday prayer in the mosque on Friday; rather, she is obligated to pray the midday prayer. If she prays the Friday prayer in the mosque, the obligation of the midday prayer is lifted from her. Note, however, that there is a difference between her and the traveler. The traveler is only obligated to pray two units, so the burden for him is, I say, because I am being cautious, the burden for the traveler if he prays the midday prayer and not the Friday prayer is two units. But for the woman, there is a difference: if she prays the Friday prayer, it means two units, and if she prays the midday prayer, it is four units. So in this case, she saves what? Two units. But here, the following detail is necessary: it is true that the traveler is obligated to pray two units, but this obligation is not agreed upon by the scholars of the Muslims. For example, the Shafi'i school says that it is permissible for him to shorten the prayer, but completing it is better for him. So according to this school, the traveler shares the same status as the woman in this regard. But the correct view is that the traveler is obligated to pray two units and not more; based on the statement of some of the Companions and, of course, evidence from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). There is no time now to mention them.
'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf said: "The one who completes the prayer while traveling is like the one who shortens it while resident." The one who shortens it while resident prays the midday prayer in two units, just like the traveler prays the midday prayer in four units. Why is this ruling so strict? Because Allah obligated the traveler to pray two units, as the Lady 'A'ishah said: "The prayer was made obligatory as two units, two units. It was left as two units in travel and increased in residence." This is the ruling in this matter. It is clear, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : Never. The woman in this matter is like the traveler; neither of them is obligated to pray the Friday prayer. However, if she prays it, the obligation of the time is lifted from her. Is the answer clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The traveler is not obligated to pray the Friday prayer; he must pray the midday prayer. But if he prays the Friday prayer, the obligation of the midday prayer is lifted from him. The woman is likewise not obligated to pray the Friday prayer in the mosque on Friday; rather, she is obligated to pray the midday prayer. If she prays the Friday prayer in the mosque, the obligation of the midday prayer is lifted from her. Note, however, that there is a difference between her and the traveler. The traveler is only obligated to pray two units, so the burden for him is, I say, because I am being cautious, the burden for the traveler if he prays the midday prayer and not the Friday prayer is two units. But for the woman, there is a difference: if she prays the Friday prayer, it means two units, and if she prays the midday prayer, it is four units. So in this case, she saves what? Two units. But here, the following detail is necessary: it is true that the traveler is obligated to pray two units, but this obligation is not agreed upon by the scholars of the Muslims. For example, the Shafi'i school says that it is permissible for him to shorten the prayer, but completing it is better for him. So according to this school, the traveler shares the same status as the woman in this regard. But the correct view is that the traveler is obligated to pray two units and not more; based on the statement of some of the Companions and, of course, evidence from the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). There is no time now to mention them.
'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf said: "The one who completes the prayer while traveling is like the one who shortens it while resident." The one who shortens it while resident prays the midday prayer in two units, just like the traveler prays the midday prayer in four units. Why is this ruling so strict? Because Allah obligated the traveler to pray two units, as the Lady 'A'ishah said: "The prayer was made obligatory as two units, two units. It was left as two units in travel and increased in residence." This is the ruling in this matter. It is clear, if Allah wills.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.