Prostration in Salah: Are Men and Women Different?

Question: Prostration in Salah: Are Men and Women Different?

Praise be to Allah

Summary: The correct view is that there is no difference in the way men and women pray.

Detailed Answer:

Some scholars hold the view that men and women should pray differently, citing various hadiths as evidence. However, these hadiths are considered da’eef (weak) and cannot be used as definitive proof.

Evidence from Scholars:

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen refuted the view of some fuqaha’ who claim that “women should not spread their arms out, but keep them close to their sides, and when they prostrate, they should press their stomachs to their thighs and their thighs to their calves… because they should conceal themselves, and compressing themselves is more concealing than spreading out.” Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) answered this as follows:

1. General Rulings Apply Equally: This reasoning cannot override the general meaning of the texts indicating that women are like men with regard to rulings. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Pray as you have seen me praying” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5662, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 674). This general statement includes both men and women.
2. Usual Context of Women’s Prayer: Typically, as prescribed, women pray alone in their houses with no men present. In such cases, there is no need for them to compress themselves, as no men can see them.
3. Raising Hands: The claim that women should not spread their arms when prostrating while also stating it is Sunnah for them to raise their hands is inconsistent. Raising the hands is more likely to uncover than spreading the arms when prostrating. The basic principle is that the rulings apply equally to men and women.

Correct View:

Women should perform the same actions as men in Salah. This includes raising their hands, spreading their arms when prostrating, making their backs level when bowing, and lifting their stomachs off their thighs and their thighs off their calves when prostrating. They should sit on the left foot with the right foot held upright when sitting between the two prostrations and in the first tashahhud. During the final tashahhud of three- and four-rak’ah prayers, they should sit mutawarrikan (with the left upper thigh on the ground and both feet protruding from one side).

There are no exceptions for women in any of these matters.

Reference: Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 3/304, 303

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated at the end of his book Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (The Prophet’s Prayer Described): “All that has been mentioned of the description of the Prophet’s prayer (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) applies equally to men and women, for there is nothing in the Sunnah to necessitate the exception of women from any of these descriptions. In fact, the generality of his statement (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), ‘Pray as you have seen me praying’, includes women.”

If a woman is praying in a public place where men may see her, such as in the Haram in Makkah or in a park, she should take precautions to avoid uncovering any part of her body.

Hadith Evidence:

• Sunan Abi Dawud 891: ‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say, “When a servant (of Allah) prostrates himself, the seven limbs, i.e., his face, his palms, his knees, and his feet, prostrate along with him.”
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5662, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 674: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Pray as you have seen me praying.”

These general statements apply to both men and women without exception.

Refutation of Weak Hadiths:

The hadiths suggesting differences in women’s prayer, such as praying in a more compact manner, are not strong and are considered mursal (a type of weak hadith). For example, the hadith cited in al-Maraaseel by Abu Dawood and by al-Bayhaqi (2/223) are mursal and therefore do not override authentic hadiths.

Reference Scholar: Muhammad Salah – YouTube Link

In conclusion

The correct view supported by authentic hadiths and scholarly consensus is that there is no difference in the way men and women pray, including in the way they prostrate.

And Allah Knows Best