Question: (a) Where should women stand in congregational Salah whether in mosque or at home? (b) does the Imam need to make niyyah (for leading) when there are female attendees too?

Answer: (a) Hanafi madhab deduces and takes the following issues into consideration:

1. Verse from Qur’an: “And the men are a degree above them, and Allah is Mighty, Wise”. [Surah Baqarah: 228]

This verse informs us that male-female has their own status or degree which should be taken in to consideration, especially in congregational prayer where there is mixed facilities.

Reference: [1] Kashful Bari sharh Sahih al Bukhari, vol-4, p-139

2. “And do not make your deeds of no effect”. [Surah Muhammad:33]

3. Narrated ‘Abu Hurairah r.a reported the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as saying:

the best of the men’s row is the first and the worst of them is the last, but the best of the women’s rows is the last and the worst of them is the first.

References: [1] Muslim:440 [2] Tirmizi:224 [3] Abu Dawud:678 [4] Nasai:820 [5] Ibn Majah:1000 [6] Sunan ad-Darimi:1271

Answer: (b) According to Hanafi madhab it is not condition for Imam to make intention for leading Salah. However, if male and female stands side by side then males Salah will be void therefore, women should stand in the back row and thus it is a condition for Imam to make intention for leading the female musallees too. All aimmah of ahnaf are muttafiq in this opinion except Imam Zufar r.a.

References: [1] Umdatul Qari vol-2, p-800 [2] Al-Abwab wat-Tarajim vol-2, p-270 [3] Fath al-Bari vol-2, p-13