Salah in the Haram for females
| Fatwa #2206 | Category: Prayer (Salaat) | Country: Zambia | Date: 25th February 2026 |
| Fatwa #2206 | Date: 25th February 2026 |
| Category: Prayer (Salaat) | |
| Country: Zambia | |
Question
Assalamu alaykum w w.
I’m going for Umrah soon and I would like to know if it is permissible to pray my fardh, Taraweeh and Qiyaamul Layl behind the Imam in the Haram?
Also, if I happen to be in the haram when the Salaah starts, what’s the best course of action?
Jazaakumullah
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The best salah of a female is in the innermost darkest portion of her house. See the following narration,
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ عَمَّتِهِ، امْرَأَةِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ
أَنَّهَا جَاءَتِ النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! إِنِّي أُحِبُّ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَكَ. فَقَالَ: قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّكِ تُحِبِّينَ الصَّلَاةَ مَعِي، وَصَلَاتُكِ فِي بَيْتِكِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلَاتِكِ فِي حُجْرَتِكِ، وَصَلَاتُكِ فِي حُجْرَتِكِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلَاتِكِ فِي دَارِكِ، وَصَلَاتُكِ فِي دَارِكِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلَاتِكِ فِي مَسْجِدِ قَوْمِكِ، وَصَلَاتُكِ فِي مَسْجِدِ قَوْمِكِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَلَاتِكِ فِي مَسْجِدِي.
Translation: The wife of Abu Humayd Saa’idi Radhiyallahu Anhu came to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I like to pray with you.” He said, “I know that you like to pray with me, but your prayer in your room is better for you than your prayer in your courtyard and your prayer in your courtyard is better for you than your praying in your house, and your prayer in your house is better for you than your prayer in the mosque of your people, and your prayer in the mosque of your people is better for you than your prayer in my mosque.” (Saheeh ibn Khuzaimah – 1689)
Therefore, a woman should perform her salah at home, whether in the holy cities or in her hometown. However, it is understood that at times women may already be out for other purposes such as tawaf etc when fardh salah time sets in, in such an instance, she may perform her salah behind the imam. As for taraweeh and qiyaamul layl, they should be performed in her room, whether they start whilst she is in the Haram or not. She will be rewarded more for doing so.
It should also be noted that according to the Hanafi madhab, a young woman is not permitted to exit the house to go solely to the masjid for salah. This remains applicable in and outside the Haramayn.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia