Can A Woman Lead The Prayer As Imam For A Congregation Consisting Of Only Women?

Can a woman lead the prayer as imam for a congregation consisting of only women?

According to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools, it is permissible for a woman to lead the prayer as the imam for a congregation consisting of only women. Those who support this opinion shows Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) allowing Umm Waraqah to lead prayer as imam for her family (Abu Dawud, Salat, 62; Ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, VL, 255; Bayhaqi, Sunan al-Kubra, I, 597) as evidence. Although it is permissible in the Hanafi school for women to perform prayer as the imam for a congregation consisting of only women, it is considered as makruh (Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar, I, 207). It is not permissible in the Maliki school (Ibn Rushd, Bidayat, I, 145; Ibn Juzay, al-Qawanin, 156).

In the event that a woman performs prayer as imam for a congregation of women, she should not stand in front of the congregation but should stay near/among other women (Abdurrazzaq, al-Musannaf, III, 140-141; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, III, 37-38; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, II, 305-306).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS