This small article written by our brother Abū Afnān Muḥammad ʾAbdullah (حفظه الله) is intended to shed light on the issue of a woman’s prayer being characteristically different to that of a man’s and some of the narrations which are used to establish this incorrect ‘principle’.

The doubt that is widely believed and practiced is that a female completes her prayer in a manner that is different to the male and that the movements in her prayer are fundamentally different to his. This is in relation to her raising her hands, bowing in rukūʾ, making sajdah and other movements during the prayer.

However, upon objective investigation of the proofs in light of the science of ḥadīth and the principles of uṣūl al-fiqh, one finds that this is a weak position which is not validated with authentic evidence. And the so called ‘proofs’ to defend it do not stand up to the authenticity of the proofs which establish the general principle that the woman’s prayer is the same as the man’s, except in specific issues wherein there is explicit proof that the woman is commanded to do something different than the man as it relates to the prayer. 

Pivotal Quotes

"...the eminent scholar Shaykh al-Albānīرحمه الله mentions after describing the entire prayer of the Prophet (ﷺ), from the takbīr to the taslīm, that men and women are the same with regards to the prayer except in issues wherein specific proof has excluded women from certain rulings. Thus, the general understanding of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) statement, 'Pray as you have seen me pray' encompasses women. This is also the statement of the tābiʾī, Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʾī who stated, 'The woman does what the man does in the prayer'"

"The Permanent Committee for Fatāwá said:

'There is no difference between the prayer of a man and the prayer of the woman regarding the statements and actions performed in the prayer. However, it is compulsory for the woman to completely cover her entire body except her face if there are no non-maḥram men in her presence. The statement of the Prophet (ﷺ), 'pray as you have seen me pray' is a general command for both men and women."

Our Noble Shaykh The Father Ḥasan ibn ʿAbdul Wahhāb al-Bannā and Shaykh 'Ali Waṣīfī (may Allah  preserve them) wrote an explicit bayān clarifying the falsehood of Muḥammad bin Hadī and his heinous attacks against the Salafīs without evidence. On Saturday 21st Dhū al-Ḥijjah, 1439 (1st September, 2018) our Noble Shaykh Ḥasan was very generous to allow us at Muwahhideen Publications a special question and answer session to put forth some of the doubts that were being spread regarding this affair by the supporters of Muḥammad bin Hadī. 

We at Mpubs continue with this series of immensely beneficial answers clarifying these erroneous doubts  

Question Three: Is It Incumbent On All The Students of Knowledge To Take A Position In The Fitnah of Muḥammad bin Hādī or Can They Remain Neutral?

 Pivotal Quotes from the Shaykh's answer ~

"...Shaykh Rabīʿ is a specialist in the science, the science of Jarḥ wa Ta’dīl. So, if he is telling you something in that science then you must abide by that, even though there might be a possibility that any Shaykh may make a mistake as well as be correct. But, yet when the proof is in his favour then we must take upon what he says.

And all of this that is happening according to my understanding and my understanding of course is according to my capabilities, because people have not got themselves used to being upon obedience and respect."

 "So, how are we going to get a ruling on this matter? How are we going to have a decisive side in this case? Are you telling me that all the scholars could not come up with one opinion verses the other so, the case would be decisive, does this make any sense to you? This only means, the one that is telling you this, is that they have deficiencies of their own by taking such neutral positions."

 "These people are those that are hung up in the middle, they are weak. They cannot solve a problem by saying what they are saying. You must advise them and tell them be firm and say don’t you trust our Shaykh, Shaykh Rabīʿ? Isn’t he the Imām of Jarḥ wa Ta’dīl. You must let matters keep on going and you must stick to the opinions of the major scholars, so the fitnah can quiet down, so you would kill the fitnah by sticking to the opinions of the major scholars." 

Our Noble Shaykh The Father Ḥasan ibn ʿAbdul Wahhāb al-Bannā and Shaykh 'Ali Waṣīfī (may Allah  preserve them) wrote an explicit bayān clarifying the falsehood of Muḥammad bin Hadī and his heinous attacks against the Salafīs without evidence. On Saturday 21st Dhū al-Ḥijjah, 1439 (1st September, 2018) our Noble Shaykh Ḥasan was very generous to allow us at Muwahhideen Publications a special question and answer session to put forth some of the doubts that were being spread regarding this affair by the supporters of Muḥammad bin Hadī. 

We at Mpubs continue with this series of immensely beneficial answers clarifying these erroneous doubts  

Question Two: Do Those Around Shaykh RabīʿAffect His Opinion and Blind Him To The Truth

 An excerpt taken from the Shaykh's answer ~

"...Allāh has promised to preserve this religion from the way of men and scholars that he brought into existence for this matter specifically, whether people talk about them in a good way or not. So, no matter what they do, those that are against the religion of Allāh or those that are trying to defame the religion of Allāh, or the scholars of the Sunnah, Allāh would always preserve His religion.. "