1- Did Prophet Muhammad's Mosque during his life time have space for women? Were women allowed to pray in the Mosque during his time?2- Why is it that mosques in the Arab world don't have provision for women yet in some other part of the world provisions are made for women in the Mosque?3-There are some sites on the web that claims to be Islamic sites but preach bad doctrine. What are the Muslim countries doing to make sure this sites are blocked at least from their country's web pages?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

I. The Prophet ordered his Companions not to prevent women from going to the mosque; he said: “Do not stop Allah's female servants from going to Allah's Mosques.”

‘Aa’ishah said: “Allah's Apostle used to offer the Fajr Prayer when it was still dark and the believing women used to return (after finishing their prayer) and nobody could recognize them owing to darkness, or they could not recognize one another.”

Umm Salamah said that, “After finishing the prayer with Tasleem, the Prophet used to stay at his place for a while.” Imam Az-Zuri said: “I think (and Allah knows best), that he used to wait (and the men also waited with him) for the departure of the women who had prayed with him in order to not disturb them.”

The above-mentioned Ahadeeth prove that women in the period of the Prophet used to pray in mosques. The best, and preferred rows for reward for prayer in the mosque are the first rows, especially the first row for the men, and the last rows, especially the last row, for the women. For this reason, men and women come early seeking these rows. The men line up from the front of the mosque to the rear, while the women line up from the rear to the front. This arrangement maintains distance between the male and female worshippers. The children are to line up in rows behind the men and in front of the women. Abu Maalik al-Ash’ari said that the Prophet used to make the Qiyaam (standing in recitation) equal in four Rak'ahs (units) and he made the first Rak'ah the longest one so that the people coming late could catch up with the prayer.

II. There are many mosques which have a section especially for women. Praying in congregation is permissible for women but it is not compulsory for them. For this reason, some mosques reserve no special place for them.

It is the duty of every Muslim to enjoin good and forbid evil as much as he can. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: “Whoever among you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do that, then he should hate it with his heart, and that is the weakest form of faith.”

III. If a Muslim can enjoin virtues and forbid evil then he should not wait for another person to do it. One does not know the reasons other people lack courage to do so. As you know many Muslim countries are busy in worthless and ridiculous matters, ignoring the work for the benefit of Islam and Muslims.

Every Muslim in every place is responsible to forbid evil as much as he can.

For more benefit on women praying in the mosque, please refer to Fatwa 82401.

Allah knows best.