B) Presence of Women in Friday Prayers and Congregations in Mosques
Women used to attend Friday prayers and congregations in the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged them to stand behind the men in the last rows. At the beginning of Islam, both men and women entered the mosque from any door they wished, which led to crowded conditions at the entrance. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remarked, “I wish you had reserved this door for women.” Following this incident, a specific door was designated for women, which became known as “Bab al-Nisa.”
Women in the time of the Prophet were not prohibited from attending the mosque, a venue for significant governmental decisions, nor from participating in the Friday prayer, considered a religious-political tradition. Umm Atiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, allowed mothers and adult daughters to attend congregational prayers on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. While menstruating women should not enter the mosque, they were still encouraged to take part in beneficial gatherings and invitations. Umm Atiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, asked the Messenger of Allah, “O Messenger of Allah! If one of us does not have a cover for hijab, what should she do?” He responded, “His sister should give him some of her cloak.”
It is also reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, took his daughters and wives with him during Eid. Umm Habiba and Khula bint Qays, may Allah be pleased with them, mentioned that they were at the last line of women during Friday prayers and could hear the khutbah and recitation of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Fatimah bint Qays, may Allah be pleased with her, stated: “Once my menstruation ended, I heard the voice of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, calling: ‘Come to the congregational prayer.’ I went to the mosque and prayed behind the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the first row of women.”
Hazrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, would pray the morning prayer, and then the women would return home from the mosque while wrapped in silk clothes, such that they could not be recognized due to the darkness.”
It is possible that women brought their young children to the mosque, and there were no obstacles preventing them from doing so. An authentic hadith states that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I stand to pray, intending to pray long, but I hear the cry of a child, so I shorten my prayer because I do not want to trouble his mother.”
By citing these hadiths, we can be assured that, contrary to the beliefs of some, during the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mosques were not exclusive to men but were indeed places where both men and women congregated. Just as mosques were filled with men, they also welcomed women. It is evident that the assembly of Muslims in mosques for congregational prayers catalyzed various social activities. Perhaps this is why the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, said, “The congregational prayer of a person is 25 times superior to his individual prayer.”
Although later religious scholars issued fatwas discouraging the presence of women in mosques due to increasing seditions, the historical evidence of their presence during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, clearly illustrates that Islam has not forgotten women. They were recognized as active participants in society who could contribute opinions on various matters.
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