1st November 2013
Question: What is the ruling on women reading Jumu’ah Salāh? More and more women are going to masjids to offer Jumu’ah Salāh. I have been asked by friends to join and attend every Friday as it is more rewarding. I have always understood that women receive a greater reward for performing Salāh in the home. I have also always understood that only men read Jumu’ah Salāh.
Answer
The Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam is reported to have said, “Jumu’ah in congregation is mandatory upon every Muslim except four; slave, woman, minor child and an ill person.”[1] It is clear from this report that women are not obliged to attend the Jumu’ah Salāh. The reason being, as you have stated, that women receive a greater reward by performing their Ibādat such as Salāh in their own homes, thus not obliged to emerge from home to attend the congregational Jumu’ah Salāh. The home is the best Masjid for a woman has been reported from Sayyidah Umme Salamah (who reports) from the Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam , “The best Masājid for women (in performing their worship) is the innermost part of their homes.”[2] This indicates that a woman receives a greater reward in her Ibādat performed at home than in her local Masjid, thus encouraged to perform their Salāh at home. However, if a woman attends the congregational Jumu’ah Salāh in her local Masjid then it is valid and will replace the Zuhr Salāh of that day.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Sunnan Abu Dawood, No1067
عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ” الْجُمُعَةُ حَقٌّ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ إِلَّا أَرْبَعَةً: عَبْدٌ مَمْلُوكٌ، أَوِ امْرَأَةٌ، أَوْ صَبِيٌّ، أَوْ مَرِيضٌ
[2] Sunnan al-Kubra Baihaqi, No: 5360, Musnad Ahmad, No:26542
عَنِ السَّائِبِ، مَوْلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:خَيْرُ مَسَاجِدِ النِّسَاءِ قَعْرُ بُيُوتِهِنَّ