Title: CAN we allow ladies to pray near mimber mehrab with 1 single purda between them and Imaam, organising salaat at different timings of men salaat?

Question: Our Masjid in Chennai is about 140 years old and it is Ahl Sunnah al Jamah mosque following "SHAFI" Madhhab and all amals are performed accordingly. In out Masjid there is no specific place like a room hall or such thing for ladies to perform prayers, in such conditions some people asking us to allow ladies in different timings of men salah. They are asking ladies to be allowed inside the masjid to perform tarawih prayers, Ramadan odd night prayers and Eid prayers in 1st saf of the Masjid near mimber and mehrab with 1 single purdah between them and Imam. I request your good self to kindly guide us on this issue and give a fatwa.

Answer ID: 48218Posted on: Aug 29, 2020

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

(Fatwa: 1449/1102/B=11/1434) During his caliphate Hadhrat Umar Farooq (رضي الله عنه) intended to stop women going to mosque and offer salah therein. He asked the women to offer salah in their homes individually as they shall receive more reward in offering salah in their homes. Whether it is fardh or tarawih salah they should offer each salah in their homes individually. There is no need to build any hall in the land of the mosque. They also need not come here and worship. Whatsoever worship they have to offer they should do it while in their homes.