The Ruling on a Woman Leading Women in Prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner: Also, you say: If a woman meets the conditions for leading prayer, should she lead women in congregational prayer or not?
The Shaykh: If she leads them, it is better for her to do so in her home. If she leads them in congregation in her home, that is better, but it is not obligatory; because congregational prayer is not obligatory for women. However, if she leads them in congregation for the sake of teaching and guidance, that is good. It has been narrated from Umm Salama and Aisha that they led some women in congregational prayer. This falls under the category of teaching and guiding to good, but it is not obligatory.
The presenter: Also, you say: But before we move on from her question, does she stand in front of the congregation?
The Shaykh: She prays in the middle of them.
The presenter: In the middle of them?
The Shaykh: In the middle of them, yes.
The Shaykh: If she leads them, it is better for her to do so in her home. If she leads them in congregation in her home, that is better, but it is not obligatory; because congregational prayer is not obligatory for women. However, if she leads them in congregation for the sake of teaching and guidance, that is good. It has been narrated from Umm Salama and Aisha that they led some women in congregational prayer. This falls under the category of teaching and guiding to good, but it is not obligatory.
The presenter: Also, you say: But before we move on from her question, does she stand in front of the congregation?
The Shaykh: She prays in the middle of them.
The presenter: In the middle of them?
The Shaykh: In the middle of them, yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.