The debate on whether a woman can act as imams-i.e. to lead a congregation in salat (prayer), or not, has been on from decades as there are several views or thoughts on it. A number of schools of Islamic thought do make exceptions for taraawih (optional Ramadan prayers) or for a congregation consisting only of close
relatives.
A scholar, Director of Baytul ilm College, Imam Ismaeel Lawal, in his remarks, said, “First, Allaah has singled out men for some virtues and rulings, and He has singled out women for other virtues and rulings.
“It is not permissible for any man to wish for that which has been granted to women only, nor is it permissible for any woman to wish for that which has been granted to men. This kind of wishing is tantamount to objecting to the laws and rulings of Allaah.
“Allaah says in surah al-Nisa 4:32, ‘And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of you to excel others. For men, there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women, there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allaah of His Bounty. Surely, Allaah is Ever All‑Knower of everything.”
“One of the things for which Allaah has singled out men is that the acts of worship which require physical strength, such as jihad, or require a position of leadership such as leading the prayers, etc., are only for men, and women have nothing to do with them,” he clarified.
He noted that if a woman leads men and boys in prayer, then only the woman’s prayer is valid while that of the men and boys she is leading, is invalid, because Allah has given men the role of protectors and maintainers of women, and He has not allowed the latter to be in charge.
Al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him), a leading Islamic scholar, in his hadith, said, “Men have been favoured over women in numerous ways, such as the fact that positions of leadership and Prophethood are limited to men only, and many acts of worship, such as jihad and leading the Eid prayers and Jumu’ah prayers, are for men only, and Allah has favoured them with intellect, wisdom, patience and toughness.”
Lawal, however, noted that there are exceptions to this ruling based on some conditions. The woman can only lead solat if the whole congregation is women folk, this gives the most learned woman who is very conversant with the faith and the recitation of the Quran the grounds to
lead prayer
Secondly, another condition that gives the woman to lead the congregation is, if there is no male Muslim around to do so; be it young male or old and consequently, no adhan will be called nor iqamat made to announce the commencement of the solat. If that is the case, the prayer should be conducted in an enclosed room and not publicly.
He concluded that these are the conditions to which a woman can lead prayers as some scholars quote it as evidence that a woman may lead a man in prayer, but only in cases of necessity, and what is meant by necessity is when there is no man who can recite al-Faatihah properly.
