My wife is a new convert to Islam, she is a English woman and I'm doing my best to help her understand Islam with the little knowledge that I know hoping that God accepts from me. Upon hearing that a Muslim woman is going to lead the Friday prayer for men and women in some US mosque, encouraged by the voices of some associations that fight for the equality of the sexes. I had a discussion with her regarding this matter and as I was myself confused I did not know how to convince her about what's religiously acceptable and what's not. Please help with advise and feedback.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The position of the Islamic Law about a woman leading a man or men in prayer is very clear in that that it is forbidden and it is not accepted for her to lead (them) in prayer. If a woman leads a man in prayer, his prayer is void and he has to make it up. This is a matter which is agreed upon among the jurists with the exception of those who deviated from the correct opinion.

The evidence that a woman cannot lead a man in prayer is the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: "The best rows for women are the last rows and the worst rows for them are the first rows [behind men] and the best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst rows are the last rows." [Muslim] Since the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described the first rows of women behind men as the worst rows, then it is certainly not permissible for a woman to be in front of men and lead the prayer!

Another evidence for the invalidity of a woman leading men in prayers is the narration of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Do not deprive your women from attending the houses of Allaah (i.e. the mosques), but their homes are better (i.e. more rewarding) for them." [Abu Daawood and Ahmad] When explaining this narration, Imaam As-Sindi stated, “The saying of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:  ‘…their homes are better (i.e. more rewarding) for them’ means that they will receive a greater reward for praying at home than if they were to pray in the mosque. This is due to them being further from temptation by remaining at home. This becomes even more apparent and established by the fact that women have begun to adorn themselves and are leaving their homes in a manner which did not exist at the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This phenomenon caused ‘Aa’ishah to state that women must now be obliged to pray at home.” [End of quote] If they were commanded to distance themselves from men during prayer and the worst rows of the women were those closest to the men's, how can it be permissible for women to lead men in prayers?

One more evidence is the story of Anas which is that once his grandmother, Mulaykah, invited the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to eat food that she had prepared for him. After eating it, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Stand up so that I can lead you in prayer." Anas narrated, "I brought a plastic rug of ours which was stained, and so I washed it with water, then the Prophet stood up to pray. I lined up behind him along with an orphan who was with us, and the old woman (i.e., his grandmother) stood behind us; the Prophet then prayed two Rak’ahs (units of prayer)." [Muslim] If this old woman stood behind the boys and not next to them, despite the fact that Anas was her grandson, then how can women be allowed to stand in front of a group of men and lead them during prayer? Imaam As-Sindi said, “This narration is evidence that it is not permissible for a woman to lead men during prayers. Moreover, the fact that she (i.e., the woman mentioned in the narration) was not allowed to line up with the men during this prayer means that it is even more prohibited for her to have stood ahead of them.” [End of quote] 

The following is yet another proof for the impermissibility of women to lead men during prayers: The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressed the Companions saying: "Never will they succeed, those who make a woman in charge of their affairs." [Al-Bukhari]

The narration of Sahl ibn Sa`d As-Sa`idi further proves this point, and it is that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "If the Imaam makes a mistake in the course of prayer, men should say, 'Subhaanallaah' (i.e. Glory be to Allaah); this is bound to attract the attention of the Imaam, and women should only clap." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] If a woman is prohibited from uttering 'Subhaanallaah' (i.e. Glory be to Allaah) during the congregational prayer whilst standing behind men, then how can anyone claim it is permissible for her to ascend the pulpit, deliver the Khutbah (sermon), and then lead men during prayers?

The practice of the Muslims for the past fourteen centuries is that women have never led men in prayer. Some wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and some female companions were more knowledgeable than the male companions, like 'Aa'ishah and Umm Salamah despite this, it is not reported that any one of them led men in prayer.

The sound mind and sound natural disposition would not accept that a woman would be in front of men as she is a cause of temptation and incites men's desires, standing in front of him bowing down and prostrating, and reciting the Quran is an act of worship which is in fact the most important and greatest act of worship. How can men humble themselves in prayer behind her? No sane person would ever say this.

Our advice to the dear questioner is that he should teach his wife that the religion of Islam is based on submission to Allaah's decree and the rulings of His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Thus, it is not permissible to contradict the ruling of Allaah and the Sunnah just because of following one's desires.

Allaah says (what means): {It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.} [Quran 33:36]

Allaah also says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allaah and His Messenger but fear Allaah. Indeed, Allaah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.} [Quran 49:1]

Allaah further says (what means): {But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.} [Quran 4:65]

So what is forbidden is what Allaah has forbidden in His Book, or what the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, has forbidden, or what the Islamic nation agreed in consensus is forbidden. To know what is forbidden from what is not, we have to resort to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Moreover, your wife has to know that Islam has honoured a woman and gave her the highest position that suits her, Islam has honoured her as a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, and as a wife. The punishment and reward applies for both men and women equally, she has the same rights as him but she has obligations and duties that correspond to her natural predisposition. The man has also rights that suit his strength, his skin, his physique and his natural disposition; he is her guardian, he protects her with his strength, and spends on her from his earnings. Allaah Says (what means): {And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses, etc.) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.} [Quran 2:228] This degree is that of responsibility and protection, and the husband is not to exceed its limits and torment, humiliate, or fail to give her rights. It is confirmed that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Women are similar to men in relation to rulings [rights and obligations]." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

Islam has given the woman her right to spend her wealth as she wishes, and deal in transactions like buying and selling, the right of ownership and the like. Allaah says (which means): {For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned.} [Quran 4:32].

Islam has also specified their rights in inheritance according to their social status. Allaah says (what means): {For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.} [Quran 4:7]

In addition to this, there is in the Quran a chapter entitled "The Women" and there is no chapter entitled "The Men". Moreover, women have status and rights that we have not mentioned. So when Islam forbade the woman to lead men in prayer, it does not mean that she is demeaned and has fewer rights, but she has rights that are in conformity with her and her physique. The wisdom behind the limitations in matters that Islam has placed upon her are to protect her and repel the difficulties of life from her so that she will be as a preserved pearl, honoured and dignified, is served and not a servant, or a cheap object as the people who pretend to call for her freedom want her to be.

For more information, you may refer to the status of women and women's rights in Islam on IslamWeb by selecting on the sub-category "Woman" on the home page.

Allaah Knows best.