Jamiatul Ulama KZN Council of Muslim Theologians
Prior to Eidul-Fitr 1439, the Jamiat KZN had received a question regarding the permissibility of women attending the Eid Salaah considering the new trend of family Eid Gahs being arranged in different places. In conformance with the established ruling of the Fuqahaa (Islamic jurists), the Jamiat had responded by stating that women should not attend the Eid Salaah. Subsequent to this, the Jamiat received a fair amount of correspondence regarding our ruling. Some correspondences requested additional clarity and some correspondences openly challenged the correctness of our ruling.
In light of this, the Jamiat has compiled a comprehensive and academic article to answer these correspondences so that the correct Islamic position on this matter may be clearly revealed.
The key points of our article are given hereunder:
- Approach to Deen and its Ahkam (commands)
What is the correct manner of understanding Islam and implementing its rulings? Islamic Law stems from the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the practice of the Sahaabah. The formulation of this Law in to a codified system was the work of master jurists (Fuqahaa) who dedicated their lives to this vital endeavour. Their rich legacies provided the Islamic constitution for the Muslim Ummah from the very first century of Islam. The correct understanding and implementation of Islamic Law is, therefore, not attainable except through their guidance. - Rulings may change based on circumstances and conditions attached to them
The common argument raised is that when Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has allowed women’s entry to the Masjid, how can anyone prevent it? The article explores in length, the various Ahadith related to women attending the Masjid, the conditions that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam attached to their entry and how negligence to those conditions would, naturally, necessitate a change to the original ruling. - Opinions of the Fuqahaa and their explanations of the Dalaa’il (proofs)
The statements of Sahaabah and Islamic jurists from all four Mazhabs are provided, clearly showing that women should not attend the Eid Salaah or congregational Salaah at the Masjid. - It is more rewarding for women to pray at home
The general ruling for women in the time of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, when women’s attendance to the Masjid was permitted, was that it was still better for them to perform Salaah at home instead of the Masjid. This is clearly proven through various Ahadith.
The view of those strongly advocating that women should attend the Eid and congregational prayers in the Masjid stating that women should not deprive themselves of the blessings of the congregational prayer is not in conformance to the advice of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam himself as well as the verdicts of the illustrious Fuqahaa.
The complete article is available here.
Further Reading
Response to a Sister’s Views on Women Attending the Masaajid – Darul Uloom Abu Bakr
