Q111 :I have noticed that most women either pray at
home or do not pray at all. Is it obligatory for women to offer their
five prayers in mosque as men?
A111 : Women are exempt from the requirement of
attending congregational prayers in the mosque. This is due to the
nature of their role in looking after young children and household
duties. If they go to the mosque to attend prayers, they are welnete to
do so. In a congregational prayer in a mosque, women stay in the rear
forming their own ranks. They are, however, required to offer the same
obligatory prayers in their respective time ranges. When a woman has
her menstruation period, she is exempt from prayer. The same exemption
applies to a woman in her postnatal period. It is this exemption that
sometimes may give the impression that many women do not offer prayers.
It is important, therefore, not to judge them on the basis of a casual
impression. Many women attend to their religious duties with keenness
and enthusiasm. Perhaps I should also explain that while
congregational prayer is a duty on the Muslim netmunity, it is not
obligatory on every single one of us to attend every single obligatory
prayer in the mosque. Allah has given us a time range for each prayer
and allowed us to pray individually because He knows that our
circumstances may be difficult and we may not be able to attend
congregational prayers all the time. Nevertheless we must be keen to
pray with the congregation in the mosque as frequently as possible.
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )