A few days prior to the first of September 1997 someone sent a
question to the Daarul Iftaa at Daarul Uloom Deoband:
“What is the Shar`i ruling regarding women performing Salaat
in the Masjid with congregation? Is it permissible or not? Or
do the Ulama-e-Kiraam merely prohibit it because of some
cogent or underlying reason?”
The Daarul Iftaa had replied to the question according to their
normal practice, but it appears that this reply of theirs did not
suit the needs of the questioner. Either he or someone else had
edited and doctored the original fatwa and published it. In fact,
they had altered the fatwa to include the word ‘Haraam’. This
gave rise to a furious debate and point of discussion in the local
papers.
Many people asked me regarding the ruling of whether it is
Haraam or not for women to come into the Masjid. I had
replied: No! There are many instances where women come and
go through the Masjid, whilst in the state of cleanliness.
The people then asked me regarding the fatwa which prohibits
women from entering the Masjid. I informed them that this
fatwa relates to the five times daily Salaat and specifically to

women attending the Masjid at night-time. This prohibition has
been issued in order to prevent fitnah.
My ‘interrogators’ then stated that the Masjid is a place of
sanctity and there can be no fear of fitnah therein. I informed
them that the fitnah is not in the Masjid but rather when they
leave their homes and whilst they are on the road. There is
especially a greater fear if the Masjid is far away and if they
have to walk at night. It is also virtually impossible that each
woman who attends the Masjid is able to have a mahram to
accompany her for all Salaats.
Salaat which is a great institution in Islaam needs to be
protected and safeguarded, hence this fatwa and ruling has been
transmitted throughout the ages by none other than the
Sahaabah (radhiallahu anhum). This is no new ruling in Islaam.
Since the original fatwa of Daarul Uloom Deoband had not
been properly afforded its due justice and the people have been
left in a quandary regarding its actual purport, it is only proper
that we apprise the public regarding the true facts and the
proper Shar`i ruling regarding this matter.
Besides the fatwa in question the Daarul Uloom had also issued
another more detailed fatwa on this issue, which we deem
appropriate to publish.
Besides the fataawa of the Daarul Uloom, there is an excellent
treatise on this subject by Mufti Kifaayatullah Saahib Dehlwi,
entitled Salaatus Saalihaat (the Salaat of the pious women),
which we have also included in our distribution drive.

In this little booklet of ours which is now in your hands, we
have firstly written the two current fatwas of Daarul Uloom
Deoband and after that the treatise by Mufti Kifaayatullah
Sahib.
We have entitled the entire booklet, Where Pious Women
Perform Their Salaat.
We trust that this treatise will enlighten all the readers to
properly understand the situation at hand, thereby getting a
clear understanding of the Shar`i viewpoint regarding the Salaat
of women.
May Allaah Ta`ala make this booklet beneficial to all and make
this a means of closing all doors to a pending fitnah.
Was Salaam
(Moulana) Marghoobur Rahmaan
Principal of Daarul Uloom Deoband
25 Jamaadul Ula 1418

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