The Desire of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding Women Performing Salaah in the Confines of their Homes

While it was the burning desire of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that the men of his Ummah perform their salaah with jamaat in the musjid, it was his heart’s desire that the women of his Ummah perform their salaah within the confines of their homes.

Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) encouraged women to perform their salaah within their homes and remain concealed from the eyes of men, to such an extent that he said, “The salaah of a woman in her bedroom is more rewarding than her salaah in the enclosed courtyard of her house, and her salaah in the innermost portion of the bedroom (a small room within the bedroom) is more rewarding than her salaah in her bedroom.”^[1]

Once, Hazrat Ummu Humaid (radhiyallahu ‘anha), the wife of Hazrat Abu Humaid As-Saa’idi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), came to Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I long to perform salaah behind you.” Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I am aware that you long and desire to perform salaah behind me. However, your salaah in your bedroom is more rewarding than your salaah in any other part of your home. The salaah in any other part of your home is more rewarding than the salaah in your enclosed courtyard. The salaah in your enclosed courtyard is more rewarding than the salaah in the musjid of your locality. The salaah in the musjid of your locality is more rewarding than your salaah in my Musjid (Musjid-e-Nabawi).” Hazrat Ummu Humaid (radhiyallahu ‘anha) (in compliance and obedience with the mubaarak desire of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam),) instructed that a small place be reserved for her salaah in the innermost portion of her bedroom, and she would devotedly perform all her salaah at that place until the end of her life.^[2]

[1] عن عبد الله عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال صلاة المرأة في بيتها أفضل من صلاتها في حجرتها وصلاتها في مخدعها أفضل من صلاتها في بيتها (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 570)

[2] عن عبد الله بن سويد الأنصاري عن عمته أم حميد امرأة أبي حميد الساعدي أنها جاءت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت يا رسول الله إني أحب الصلاة معك قال قد علمت أنك تحبين الصلاة معي وصلاتك في بيتك خير من صلاتك في حجرتك وصلاتك في حجرتك خير من صلاتك في دارك وصلاتك في دارك خير من صلاتك في مسجد قومك وصلاتك في مسجد قومك خير من صلاتك في مسجدي قال فأمرت فبني لها مسجد في أقصى شيء من بيتها وأظلمه وكانت تصلي فيه حتى لقيت الله جل وعلا (صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 2217)