Women lining up behind men in prayer
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In his third question, he says: If a man prays with his mother or one of his mahrams (close relatives) in a room alone, and they are not praying in congregation, is it obligatory for the man to stand in front and the woman to stand behind? Knowing that they are alone. We want the answer accompanied by evidence if possible, may Allah guide you?
Answer: If he intends to pray with a woman, she should stand behind him, not in the same row, even if it is a husband and wife, or with his mother, or his sister, or his daughter. It is prescribed (mashru') that she stands behind him. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with Umm Sulaym, Umm Sulaym was behind them. He prayed with Anas on his right, and Umm Sulaym was behind them, who was Anas's mother. Similarly, when he prayed with Anas and al-Hasan ibn al-Damirah, they stood behind him in a row, and Umm Sulaym stood behind them; she did not line up with them or with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, the Sunnah is for women to stand behind men. Even if it is the imam's mother or the imam's wife, she does not line up with him, but stands behind him. This is the Sunnah. It is not required that they pray in congregation. If he prays alone and she prays alone, there is no harm. But if he wants her to pray with him in the late-night prayer (tahajjud), or in the obligatory prayer, for example, if a sick person cannot go out to the mosque, or if he missed the obligatory prayer in the mosque, and she prays the obligatory prayer with him, there is no harm. Or if it is the late-night prayer, there is no harm. He prays with her, but she stands behind him, not with him. Yes.
Answer: If he intends to pray with a woman, she should stand behind him, not in the same row, even if it is a husband and wife, or with his mother, or his sister, or his daughter. It is prescribed (mashru') that she stands behind him. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed with Umm Sulaym, Umm Sulaym was behind them. He prayed with Anas on his right, and Umm Sulaym was behind them, who was Anas's mother. Similarly, when he prayed with Anas and al-Hasan ibn al-Damirah, they stood behind him in a row, and Umm Sulaym stood behind them; she did not line up with them or with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, the Sunnah is for women to stand behind men. Even if it is the imam's mother or the imam's wife, she does not line up with him, but stands behind him. This is the Sunnah. It is not required that they pray in congregation. If he prays alone and she prays alone, there is no harm. But if he wants her to pray with him in the late-night prayer (tahajjud), or in the obligatory prayer, for example, if a sick person cannot go out to the mosque, or if he missed the obligatory prayer in the mosque, and she prays the obligatory prayer with him, there is no harm. Or if it is the late-night prayer, there is no harm. He prays with her, but she stands behind him, not with him. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
