The way in which women pray is the same as the way in which men pray

[sonz]

Question :

Would u please tell me the proper way for women to sit, when we pray, also can you please differenciate the sitting position, from men.​

Answer :

Praise be to Allaah. The way in which women pray is the same as the way in which men pray in every part of the prayer, prostration, sitting, and so on. This is based on the following evidence:

1 – The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Pray as you have seen me praying.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari. This is addressed to both men and woman.
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Everything that we have said above about the way in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prayed applies equally to men and women. There is nothing narrated in the Sunnah which implies that women are exempted from any of that. Rather the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Pray as you have seen me praying,” include women too.
Sifat Salaat al-Nabi , p. 189

2 – The general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Women are the twin halves of men.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 204; al-Tirmidhi, 105, from the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah. Also narrated by al-Daarimi, 764, from the hadeeth of Anas.

Al-‘Ajlooni said: Ibn Qattaan said: The isnaad from ‘Aa’ishah is da’eef (weak), but the isnaad from Anas is saheeh (sound).
Kashf al-Khafa’ , 1/248

Al-Khattaabi said: What we understand from this is: If something is said in the masculine, it is addressed to women too, except in cases where there is evidence to indicate that it applies only to women.

​

Some of the scholars said that a woman should not sit as a man sits (in prayer), and they quoted two da’eef (weak) hadeeths as evidence for that.

Al-Bayhaqi said:

Two da’eef hadeeth were narrated concerning that, the like of which cannot be taken as evidence.
The first is the hadeeth of ‘Ata’ ibn al-‘Ajlaan from Abu Nadrah al-‘Abdi from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, the companion of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), that he used to command the men to spread out their arms in their prostration and he used to tell the women to keep their arms close to their sides in their prostration. He used to tell the men to spread their left foot along the ground (and sit on it) and place the right foot upright during the tashahhud and he used to tell the women to sit, kneeling, on their heels.” Then al-Bayyhaqi said: This is a munkar hadeeth.

The other is the hadeeth of Abu Mutee’ al-Hakam ibn ‘Abd-Allaah al-Balkhi from ‘Umar ibn Dharr from Mujaahid from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a woman sits during the prayer she should place one thigh against the other and when she prostrates she should press her stomach against her thighs, compressing herself in the most concealing manner, for Allaah looks at her and says: ‘O My angels, I call you to bear witness that I have forgiven her.’” Sunan al-Bayhaqi al-Kubra, 2/222.

This hadeeth is da’eef, because it was narrated by Abu Mutee’ al-Balkhi.

​

Ibn Hajar said:
Ibn Mu’een said: He is nothing. On one occasion he said: He is da’eef. Al-Bukhaari said: He is da’eef. Al-Nasaa’i said: He is da’eef. Lisaan al-Mizaan, 2/334.

Ibn ‘Adiyy said: It is clear that Abu Mutee’ is da’eef in his ahaadeeth and everything that he narrated, and for most of his narrations there are no corroborating reports. ​

Al-Kaamil fi Du’afa’ al-Rijaal, 2/214

A third hadeeth was narrated from Yazeed ibn Abi Habeeb, saying that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by two women who were praying. He said: “When you prostrate, press some of your flesh to the ground, for women are not like men in that.”

​

This was narrated by Abu Dawood in al-Maraaseel (p. 118) and by al-Bayhaqi (2/223).

This hadeeth is mursal, which is a category of da’eef (weak). ​

In al-Musannaf (1/242), Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated some reports from some of the salaf which suggest that there is a difference in the way women and men sit (in prayer), but the only evidence that counts is the words of Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Then he narrated from some of the salaf that the way in which men and women pray is the same.

Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Umm al-Darda’ used to sit in prayer as a man sits and she was a scholarly woman.

Al-Haafiz stated in Fath al-Baari that Abu’l-Darda’ had two wives, both of whom were called Umm al-Darda’. The older one was a Sahaabiyyah and the younger one was a Taabi’iyyah. He suggested that the one who was referred to here by al-Bukhaari was the younger one.
See also the answer to question no. 38162.
And Allaah knows best.
​

Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

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http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=9276

masalama

 

[Umm Yoosuf]

Assalaamu Alaikum

Jazakallahu Khayr for the article its a really good read and i advice everyone to read it Insha Allah.

 

[Mawaddah]

Sis Al-Mu'minah I agree with you!! so many women have the misconception that a womans prayer is different from a mans, and they refuse to listen to any daleel!! Astaghfirullah.......I love the way the article shows the Dha'eef hadeeth which is used as a hujjah by some people. I'll be passing this along INsha'allah. Jazakumullah khair.

 

[S_87]

jazakAllah khair bro :thumbs_up

 

[Dhulqarnaeen]

Masha Allah, a nice post bro, barokallahu feek. Yes, theres a lot of missconception about this, especially for women. And its become somekinda traditional teaching in here that the way womens prayer is different from men. Rasulullah said:"Pray as you have seen me praying.”(HR. Bukhari). Yes this hadith too all muslims, men and women. If you know Rasulullah shalallahu alaihi wasallam sujud with his hands like a wings then women MUST do like what he did too according to the hadith. There are some differences the women made in their salah (which are these are have no example from Nabi and his companions radhiallahu anhum. Such as:
1. They do takbir and raise their forehands close to their chest, Rasulullah did it and his forehands wide out to the side of his body and he araise his fingers on his shoulder or about beside his ears.
2. They join both of their legs together, and theres no space between them while standing. And its wrong. Cause when they do salah jamaah, then their feets should touch the person's feet beside them, and their shoulder also. This is the perfect shaf in salah, see kitab bulughul maram by Ibnu Hajar al Asqolaniy.
3. They dont make their hands like a wings in sujud, and Rasulullah make his hands like a wings. Wide spread to the both side of the body, and Rasulullah used to make a wide space between his head and his legs in sujud, untill in hadith said the goats baby (what you call the goat baby? :rollseyes geee my english masha Allah) can walk under his body between his head and his legs. So there is a wide space between them.
These are some mistakes that women usually do, and so many more mistakes in salah that muslims often do in salah that against sunnah. But I think its too long to explain in here, and its best rujuu' to the book of syaikh Albani rahimahullah "sifatus salah Nabi" for the explanations. :brother: :

 

[amirah_87]

Ma'shaAllah!!!....jazaakallaahu kahayran akhee!!

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu


doesnt this kind of negate the views of the madhabs thus showing only one side to the story?

 

[MinAhlilHadeeth]

:salamext:

Akhee this is a genuine question, and since you're hanafi I was hoping you might know. Is the opinion of the hanafi madhhab regarding women's prayer Imam Abu Hanifa's opinion? Or one of his students, or his students' students?

If you want, you can show the evidences for the opinion you believe to be correct.

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

:salamext:

Akhee this is a genuine question, and since you're hanafi I was hoping you might know. Is the opinion of the hanafi madhhab regarding women's prayer Imam Abu Hanifa's opinion? Or one of his students, or his students' students?

la adree, if one accepts madhabs then it should be commonly understood that the scholars of the madhaahibs derive rulings from imam abu hanifa right and his methodology right? Also ukhtee even if it was imam abu hanifa's students they were so knowledgable, i mean one of them actually debated with abu hanifa (abu yusuf) for 2 months and actually encouraged him to drop the "quran is created" aqeedah. subhanAllah. I think these students are great enough to take opinions from.

If you want, you can show the evidences for the opinion you believe to be correct.

i dont have any ! when i get home im sure i can dig some up for you inshaAllah.



ukhtee do you think the students of the four imams distorted their views thus making all the followers of the madhaahib to be astray? because most fataawa i see always have ONE DEFINITIVE answer, i mean why cant they say "according to this imaam, and according to that one", why is it THIS IS THE WAY?


im really sorry for any offense caused but i dont understand why the difference of opinion isnt accepted here . everyone is prone to mistakes, so no-one is 100% correct.




i know i been apologising a lot recently but


sorry if i offended anyone :hiding:

 

[Umar001]

I think difference of opinion is accepted in matters.

For example, noone here will debate over whether after the ruku one has to put his hands on his chest or by his sides. Though I think its by his sides lol.

 

[------]

:salamext:

Personally I think Guys and Girls pray in various different ways.

Plus, even if Imaam Hanifa, Imaam Malik, Imaam Shafi'ee, etc. have their different opinions, those opinions are derived from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, so i don't think any argument can be based upon the difference of four Madhabs?

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

:salamext:

Personally I think Guys and Girls pray in various different ways.

Plus, even if Imaam Hanifa, Imaam Malik, Imaam Shafi'ee, etc. have their different opinions, those opinions are derived from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, so i don't think any argument can be based upon the difference of four Madhabs?

if you mean the four madhabs have the best way to derive rulings sis and have the most correct set of fataawa from past mujtahids then i am in complete agreement mashaAllah.

if i am mistaken please correct

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

 

[MinAhlilHadeeth]

ukhtee do you think the students of the four imams distorted their views thus making all the followers of the madhaahib to be astray? because most fataawa i see always have ONE DEFINITIVE answer, i mean why cant they say "according to this imaam, and according to that one", why is it THIS IS THE WAY?

:salamext:
SubhanAllah! That's not what I meant at all. I was just curious. Because from what I understand, not all the rulings of the madhhabs are from the Imams, but some are from later jurists of that madhhab. So it may not have been Imam Abu Haneefah's opinion that the woman's prayer is different.

Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid is a mufti, he is making ijtihaad in this issue and he doesn't need to refer to other opinions if he feels they are incorrect. However we do allow people to post different opinions in fiqh here, we just don't allow on-going debates. You haven't offended me at all brother, and I hope you forgive me if I offend you.

 

[islamirama]

Good post, just one question.

Now women do pray as men do, but with slight variation. Men stand with legs shoulder apart while women stand with feet together. And there's other slight differneces as well, like women place hands on upper chest and men close to the abodomen.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[FatimaAsSideqah]

While starting the 'Salah', women should not raise their hands upto their ears, instead, they should raise them upto their shoulders, and that too, from within the scarf of or other outer warp being used. Hands should not be taken out of the cover.

When women fold their hands on the chest, they should simply place the palm of their right hand on the back of the left forehand. They should not fold their hands on the navel like men.

In 'Ruku', women are not required to straighten their backs fully like men. Women should bend less as compared to men

In the position of 'Ruku' , men should open up their fingers while placing them on the knees, but women are required that they place their hands on the knees with fingers close together, that is, there be no space between fingers.

Women should not stand on legs absolutely straight, instead, they should stand with knees slightly bent forward.

In 'Ruku', men are required to keep their arms stretched, away from the sides. But women should stand with their arms close to their sides.

Women should stand with both feet close together. Specially, both their knees should just about be joined together. Let there be no separating distance between legs

While doing 'Sajdah', the method prescribed for men is that should not lower their chest until such time that their method is not for women. They can, right form the start, lower their chest and go for 'Sajdah'

Women should do their 'Salah' in a manner that the stomach-wall comes to rest against the thighs and the arms stay close to the sides. In addition to that, woman do not have to position their feet upright, instead, they should spread them on the floor sliding them out towards the right.

Men are prohibited to place their elbows on the floor while making 'Salah'. But, women should place the whole arm, including the elbows, on the floor.

Men are required that they be careful about keeping their fingers open when bending for 'Ruku', and keeping them close together when in 'Sajdaj', and then leave them as they are during the rest of the 'Salah' when they make no efforts either to close or open them, But, it is required of women, under all conditions, that they keep fingers close together, that is leave no space between them. This is required all along in 'Ruku', in 'Sajdah' between two 'Sajdahs' and in the 'Qa'dahs'.





Fi Amani Allah

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

forgive me for misinterpretting you ukhtee, it was a grave wrong on my part. its just when you asked if it was from imam abu hanifa or his students it seemed to me that your saying if his students derived the rulings it wouldnt have the same authority. Of course the students took into consideration abu hanifa rahmatullahi alayh's views.

again im sorry for misinterpretting sis.

 

[FatimaAsSideqah]

And also I have found this video..it shows how the way of Muslims' prayer (Salah)..

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/accessislam/video_406m.html



Fi Amani Allah

 

[Ayesha Rana]

Oh sis uve told us all how u think women should pray but u havent given any evidence to back up ur statements
i was reading bukharis hadith on Salaah yesterday and i read many things that contradict what u have posted...
And bro IbnAbdulHakim dont get me wrong cos i respect all the 4 Imams and their different views but we must see the evidence behind whatever they say because I read a book in which Imam Abu Hanifa stated "this is my view and if anyone finds a more Authentic Hadith against it then my opinion is void and i go by that hadith" or something on those lines and alson that he said we were not to follow anything he did without understanding his reasons and the evidence behind it.
The four Imams respected each other so we should do the same and there should be no disunity cos at the end of the day we are all muslims and are all striving to please Allah not tell each other that they are wrong and we are right.
Hazrat Abu hurairah (RAA) relates that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said:
A person who aquires knowledge, which is being sought for thesake of Allah, with the intention to attain some worldly gains, such a person will not get even the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgement.
(Abu Daud quoted with sound chains)

 

[Ayesha Rana]

:uuh:? u guys editted ur posts:? lol

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

Oh sis uve told us all how u think women should pray but u havent given any evidence to back up ur statements
i was reading bukharis hadith on Salaah yesterday and i read many things that contradict what u have posted...
And bro IbnAbdulHakim dont get me wrong cos i respect all the 4 Imams and their different views but we must see the evidence behind whatever they say because I read a book in which Imam Abu Hanifa stated "this is my view and if anyone finds a more Authentic Hadith against it then my opinion is void and i go by that hadith" or something on those lines and alson that he said we were not to follow anything he did without understanding his reasons and the evidence behind it.
The four Imams respected each other so we should do the same and there should be no disunity cos at the end of the day we are all muslims and are all striving to please Allah not tell each other that they are wrong and we are right.
Hazrat Abu hurairah (RAA) relates that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said:
A person who aquires knowledge, which is being sought for thesake of Allah, with the intention to attain some worldly gains, such a person will not get even the fragrance of Paradise on the Day of Judgement.
(Abu Daud quoted with sound chains)

BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM

Dr. Zakir Naik wrote:

5. All Four Imam said follow the Qur’an and Sunnah.

All the four great Imams said that if any of their Fatwas or teachings contradict Allah’s word, i.e. the Qur’an, or the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) i.e. authentic Hadith, then that particulars Fatwa of theirs should be rejected, and the Sunnah of the Prophet should be followed.

To give you an example in this context – Imam shafi said that when a women touches a man who is in a state of wudhu, the wudhu of the man breaks. However, this ruling of Imam Shafi contradicts the authentic saying of the Prophet.

Narrated Aisha
The Prophet (may peace be upon him) kissed one of his wives and went out for saying prayer. He did not perform ablution. (Sunan Abu Dawood Vol. 1 Chapter No. 70 Hadith No. 179)

Thus this particular teaching of Imam Shafi contradicts the authentic saying of the Prophet. So I reject this specific ruling of Imam Shafi who himself said , “ If I say something, then compare it to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger and if it agrees to them, then accept it and that which goes against them, then reject it and throw my saying against the wall” – This is a saying of ash-Shafi’ee-rahimaullah. See Al-Majmoo’ of an-Nawawee (1/63).

Thus by rejecting this particular teaching of Imam Shafi which contradicts the authentic Hadith, I am practically a better follower of Imam Shafi than those who call themselves ‘Shafi’.

The response to this is; This is the opinion of Ibn 'Umar and some other Sahabah. However, when the Sahabah disagree in a matter, their statements are not a proof unless proof is brought from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s). As we stated before, Ibn 'Abbas and the reports from 'Aa'ishah contradict the opinion of Ibn 'Umar and those with their opinion. Thus, the opinion of Ibn Umar is not accepted unless supported with proof from the mouth of the beloved Messenger Muhammad (s). This topic itself is a lengthy topic in which one can not lightly accuse Imaam Shafi’ee (Rahimahullah) of going against a Hadeeth.

Furthermore, everyone learning Ahadeeth and extracting rulings from them in the light of Qur’aan is unreal and somewhat impossible. Not many if not all have the ability to do so. Therefore, to say one can follow a different ruling if they find a Hadeeth which contradicts it, is absurd for a common person.

Bearing in mind, does a common person have enough knowledge to know that there is no other stronger Hadeeth that this ruling? Does the layman have enough knowledge to understand why Imam Shafi’ee uses that Hadeeth as Hujjah and Imam Abu Hanifah uses this?

http://www.muftisays.com/viewarticle.php?article=zntaqleed