11th July 2018
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Question: Can a woman lead minor girls in Jamat so to teach them how to pray Salāh until they are able to read independently?
الجواب حامداً ومصلياً
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Regarding your particular query, the Hanafi jurists have ruled that a woman leading other women in congregation is Makrooh Tahrimi (disliked). This is because that congregational Salāh is generally not prescribed for them because performing Salāh individually is preferred for them. Furthermore, women performing Salāh individually is more concealing in their respect.[1]
However, teaching minor girls Salāh is necessary so if possible, teach them Salāh alternative to the congregational method. If teaching them through congregational practice is more effective for them then the female Imām should stand in the middle of the row with the minor girls standing by her side. Once the girls become familiar with the practical mode of Salāh then they should now perform it individually. Performing in a congregation should not be a habitual practice.
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Sajeda Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Al Raddul almuhtaar ala Durril Mukhtar ,Kitāb al-Salāh, Bāb al Imamat . v1 pg. 565
(وَ) يُكْرَهُ تَحْرِيمًا (جَمَاعَةُ النِّسَاءِ) وَلَوْ التَّرَاوِيحَ فِي غَيْرِ صَلَاةِ جِنَازَةٍ
Badi’a Al-Sana’ia , Kitāb al-Salāh, Fasl ma yasluhu lilimamah, v1 pg156
وَكَذَا الْمَرْأَةُ تَصْلُحُ لِلْإِمَامَةِ فِي الْجُمْلَةِ، حَتَّى لَوْ أَمَّتْ النِّسَاءَ جَازَ، وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَقُومَ وَسَطَهُنَّ لِمَا رُوِيَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا – أَنَّهَا أَمَّتْ نِسْوَةً فِي صَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ وَقَامَتْ وَسَطَهُنَّ وَأَمَّتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ نِسَاءً وَقَامَتْ وَسَطَهُنَّ؛ وَلِأَنَّ مَبْنَى حَالِهِنَّ عَلَى السِّتْرِ وَهَذَا أَسْتَرُ لَهَا، إلَّا أَنَّ جَمَاعَتَهُنَّ مَكْرُوهَةٌ عِنْدَنَا، وَعِنْدَ الشَّافِعِيِّ مُسْتَحَبَّةٌ كَجَمَاعَةِ الرِّجَالِ، وَيُرْوَى فِي ذَلِكَ أَحَادِيثَ لَكِنَّ تِلْكَ كَانَتْ فِي ابْتِدَاءِ الْإِسْلَامِ ثُمَّ نُسِخَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ
Al Fatawa al Hindiyya , Kitāb al-Salāh , Fasl man yasluhu imaaman lighayrihi . v1 pg. 85
وَيُكْرَهُ إمَامَةُ الْمَرْأَةِ لِلنِّسَاءِ فِي الصَّلَوَاتِ كُلِّهَا مِنْ الْفَرَائِضِ وَالنَّوَافِلِ إلَّا فِي صَلَاةِ الْجِنَازَةِ. هَكَذَا فِي النِّهَايَةِ فَإِنْ فَعَلْنَ وَقَفَتْ الْإِمَامُ وَسَطَهُنَّ وَبِقِيَامِهَا وَسَطَهُنَّ لَا تَزُولُ الْكَرَاهَةُ وَإِنْ تَقَدَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِنَّ إمَامُهُنَّ لَمْ تَفْسُدْ صَلَاتُهُنَّ. هَكَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ وَصَلَاتُهُنَّ فُرَادَى أَفْضَلُ هَكَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ.