Imamah - Leadership of the Prayer
Islam is true and complete religion which is very logical perfect and comprehensive.The concept of worship in islamic is very clear and define.such worship is called salat in islamic and arabic dictionary. The Salat (Prayer) is a very basic fundamental pillar of Islam. Concerning its leadership, the beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) words of guidance are absolutely clear, “When the time of the Prayer arrives, then one of you men should perform the Azan (Call to Prayer) and the most senior male amongst you should perform the Imamah.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 10, Chapter 17, Hadith 631). It is deduced from this that the Azan and the Imamah are reserved specifically for the man, and not for the woman.
Why just Man can be Imam?
Allah Creator of the universe only made the man, i.e. Adam (as), His Khalifah (representive) and gave him the honour of being prostrated to by the angels, (Qur’an Albaqarah, 30-34). Moreover, all the holy Prophets that He sent for the guidance of humanity were all men (Qur’an yousuf, 109), not a single one of them was a woman. The Imam’s post is the legacy of the Holy Prophets. Therefore, it is the men who are rightfully entitled to it. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated, “Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets”. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book 37, Chapter 19, Hadith 2898). Fourteen hundred years of Islamic history testifies to this that in the mosques only the men have always performed the Imamah. Furthermore, the noble Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated, “Behold! No woman can ever perform the Imamah of a man.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 6, Chapter 78, Hadith 1134). For, the Prayer is a sacred and pure obligation in which a human shows his servitude to Allah (most high) with utmost humility, fear of Allah (most high) and complete satisfaction of the mind and heart. But if a woman appears as the Imam or the Khatib (deliverer of the sermon), then due to her feminine voice and sexual appeal, it is quite natural for satanic temptations to be aroused in some minds and this causes anxiety and disarray in worship. Therefore, it is not correct for the woman to be the Imam or Khatib of the men.
According to Imam Malik’s (Radiyallahu anhu) opinion is that a woman cannot perform the Imamah of even the women. while our Greatest Imam Numan bin sabit Abu Hanifah (Radiyallahu anhu), on the other hand, is of the opinion that it is Makruh (disliked) for a woman to become the Imam of women, but if she does lead their congregation then she should stand in the middle of the first row, with the women, and not stand upon the prayer mat at the front like male imam.
The noble Imams unanimously agree that a woman cannot perform the Imamah of men. If, however, a woman leads the men in Prayer then the Prayer of these men is null and void, and they must perform it again.
The reference of the Hadith of Umey Warqah (ra)
The Hadith presents the following narration:
The beloved Messenger (peace be upon him), would go to visit Umey Warqah (ra) at her home on the day of Friday. When the noble Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) announced his decision to go to war at Badr, Umey Warqah (ra) humbly requested, “Grant me permission to go to war with you. I will look after the sick and wounded. Maybe Allah will honour me with martyrdom.” The beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) replied, “Stay at your home. Certainly Allah (most high) will grant you martyrdom.” For this reason she became known as Shahidah (female martyr) from then on.
She requested permission from the beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) that if someone could perform the Adhan in her home. (Perhaps she had difficulties in determining the times of Prayer, or wished to gain blessings from the Adhan, as she did not request permission for performing the Imamah). Eventually, the beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) appointed an old man as a Muazin (caller to the Prayer) for her and also granted Umey Warqah (ra) permission to lead her household in Prayer. Umey Warqah (ra) had already informed her male and female slave that they would go free upon her death. But this slave and slave-girl, during the khilafatey rashedah of Hazrat Umar bin khattab (ra), by strangling Umey Warqah (ra) martyred her. Thus, in compliance with the prophecy of the beloved Messenger (peace be upon him), she died as a Shahidah in her own home.
Let us together, ponder over this Hadees with honesty and integrity. First of all, it is difficult to prove that men were included in the Imamah of which Umey Warqah (ra) was granted permission. This is because the words ‘Ta’umma Nisa’aha’ are explicitly stated in Sunan al-Darqutni. This means that the beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) granted Umey Warqah (ra) permission to perform the Imamah of the women in her household. (Sunan al-Darqutni, Beirut).
This Hadees is to be found in Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Sunan Abee Dawood and other Hadith sources.
Allah knows better
By: Peer Syed Mohyuddin Mahboob
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