Where Do Pious Women Perform Their Salaat

By Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Kifayatullah Dehlvi (r.a)

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A few days prior to the first of September 1997 someone sent a question to the Daarul Iftaa at Daarul Uloom Deoband:

“What is the Shar^i ruling regarding women performing Salaat in the Masjid with congregation? Is it permissible or not? Or do the Ulama-e-Kiraam merely prohibit it because of some cogent or underlying reason ? ”

The Daarul Iftaa had replied to the question according to their normal practice, but it appears that this reply of theirs did not suit the needs of the questioner. Either he or someone else had edited and doctored the original fatwa and published it. In fact, they had altered the fatwa to include the word ‘Haraam’. This gave rise to a furious debate and point of discussion in the local papers.

Many people asked me regarding the ruling of whether it is Haraam or not for women to come into the Masjid. I had replied: No! There are many instances where women come and go through the Masjid, whilst in the state of cleanliness.

The people then asked me regarding the fatwa which prohibits women from entering the Masjid. I informed them that this fatwa relates to the five times daily Salaat and specifically to women attending the Masjid at night-time. This prohibition has been issued in order to prevent fitnah.

Hayat ul Sahabah by Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Kandhelvi (r.a)

My ‘interrogators’ then stated that the Masjid is a place of sanctity and there can be no fear of fitnah therein. I informed them that the fitnah is not in the Masjid but rather when they leave their homes and whilst they are on the road. There is especially a greater fear if the Masjid is far away and if they have to walk at night. It is also virtually impossible that each woman who attends the Masjid is able to have a mahram to accompany her for all Salaats.

Salaat which is a great institution in Islaam needs to be protected and safeguarded, hence this fatwa and ruling has been transmitted throughout the ages by none other than the Sahaabah (radhiallahu anhum). This is no new ruling in Islaam.

Since the original fatwa of Daarul Uloom Deoband had not been properly afforded its due justice and the people have been left in a quandary regarding its actual purport, it is only proper that we apprise the public regarding the true facts and the proper SharT ruling regarding this matter.

Besides the fatwa in question the Daarul Uloom had also issued another more detailed fatwa on this issue, which we deem appropriate to publish.

Besides the fataawa of the Daarul Uloom, there is an excellent treatise on this subject by Mufti Kifaayatullah Saahib Dehlwi, entitled Salaatus Saalihaat (the Salaat of the pious women), which we have also included in our distribution drive.

In this little booklet of ours which is now in your hands, we have firstly written the two current fatwas of Daarul Uloom Deoband and after that the treatise by Mufti Kifaayatullah Sahib.

We have entitled the entire booklet, Where Pious Women Perform Their Salaat.

We trust that this treatise will enlighten all the readers to properly understand the situation at hand, thereby getting a clear understanding of the SharT viewpoint regarding the Salaat of women.

May Allaah Ta v ala make this booklet beneficial to all and make this a means of closing all doors to a pending fitnah.

Was Salaam

(Moulana) Marghoobur Rahmaan Principal of Daarul Uloom Deoband 25 JamaadulUlal418

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