𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (508)

What's the Proper Way for Women to Correct the Imam During Prayer? The basis for this discussion is the following ḥadīth: Sahl ibn Sa‘d As-Sā‘di (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ went to Banu ʿAmr ibn ʿAwf to reconcile a matter between them. When it was time for prayer, the mu’adhdhin went to Abū Bakr and asked if he would lead the people in prayer. He agreed and began praying. The Prophet ﷺ arrived while the people in prayer. People clapped (to get attention), but Abū Bakr did not turn. When the clapping became louder, he looked and saw the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ signalled him to stay in his place. Abū Bakr then raised his hands and praised Allāh for what the Prophet ﷺ had instructed him to do. He waited until he joined the row properly, then the Prophet ﷺ led the prayer. After the prayer, the Prophet ﷺ asked Abū Bakr why he did not continue when instructed. Abū Bakr replied that it was not fitting for the son of Abū Quḥāfah to lead while the Prophet ﷺ was present. The Prophet ﷺ said: “I saw that most of you were clapping. Whoever is disturbed in prayer should say Subḥān Allāh. Clapping is only for women.” [Reported by Al-Bukhārī 652 and Muslim 421] And in another wording of Al-Bukhari (7190), he ﷺ said: ((إِذَا رَابَكُمْ أَمْرٌ، فَلْيُسَبِّحِ الرِّجَالُ، وَلْيُصَفِّحِ النِّسَاءُ)) ‘If a matter confuses you, let the men perform tasbih, and let the women clap.’ This ḥadīth indicates that men correct the Imam by saying "subḥānallāh" aloud, while women do so by clapping. --------------- How should she clap? Ibn Rajab raḥimahullāh explains: “A woman’s clapping means striking the back of one hand against the palm of the other. This is how our scholars, the Shafi‘is, and others have explained it. They said a woman should not strike palm to palm; if she does, it is disliked.” [Fat-h Al-Bārī, 9/311] If a woman says "subḥānallāh" instead of clapping, will this invalidate her prayer? No, it's simply disliked. Waliy Ad-Deen Al-Iraqi rahimahullah said: "Even if a woman does not follow the usual etiquette for women in prayer and says “Subḥānallāh”, her prayer is not invalid. However, if she does this quietly so that no one hears, it is not a proper way to notify others of the intended objective. But if she does it aloud so that those she wants to inform can hear, then what should be said is: * If it's directed to a woman or a male relative (maḥram), there is no dislike. * If it's directed to a non-related man (ajnabi), it is disliked, and some say it is prohibited, considering her voice as ‘awrah..." [Ṭarḥ At-Tathrīb, 2/248–249] --------------- What if a woman is praying behind a female Imam, or the Imam is her mahram, with no non mahram men present? If a woman is in her home or among other women, she may perform tasbih without clapping, because the prohibition against tasbih applies only in the presence of men. Az-Zarkashī rahimahullah stated: "Clapping has been permitted for women. Its proper context is when non mahram men are present. If women or close male relatives are present, she may say Subḥānallāh aloud, similar to reciting Qur'ān aloud in their presence." [Mughni Al-Muḥtāj, 1/418] ‘A’ishah (may Allāh be pleased with her) performed tasbih for her sister Asmā’ during the solar eclipse prayer, as narrated by Al-Bukhari (86) from Asmā, that she said’: أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ وَهِيَ تُصَلِّي فَقُلْتُ: مَا شَأْنُ النَّاسِ؟ فَأَشَارَتْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، فَإِذَا النَّاسُ قِيَامٌ، فَقَالَتْ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ، قُلْتُ: آيَةٌ؟ فَأَشَارَتْ بِرَأْسِهَا: أَيْ نَعَمْ، فَقُمْتُ حَتَّى تَجَلَّانِي الغَشْيُ، فَجَعَلْتُ أَصُبُّ عَلَى رَأْسِي المَاءَ، فَحَمِدَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ لَمْ أَكُنْ أُرِيتُهُ إِلَّا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَقَامِي، حَتَّى الجَنَّةُ وَالنَّارُ، فَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ: أَنَّكُمْ تُفْتَنُونَ فِي قُبُورِكُمْ مِثْلَ أَوْ قَرِيبَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ المَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ الحديث.