In the Name of Allāh.

This is faith-shaking! Can someone pose this logical challenge? For those in Da’wah, this may be chiefly useful to you. A non-Muslim asked: “Why do women stay behind men in the Muslims’ prayer (i.e. Salah)? Uh! How do you answer that? As Muslims, our concern is evidence before doing anything in Islam – we hear and obey without necessarily having an interest in why some things are done. Of course, it is evident in the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) that women should stay behind men in prayer. But, the questioner is not interested in the ‘illah (i.e. textual evidence). What he rather wants is the Hikmah (i.e. underlying wisdom) behind it.

First, know that it is not an indication of spiritual backwardness or inferiority that the women stay behind men in prayer. A prayer is an act of communication with Allāh that requires maximum concentration, all solemnity and full submissiveness. And, in the congregational prayer, we are enjoined to stay side by side to maintain closeness and demonstrate brotherhood – toe to toe and shoulder to shoulder. Then, to achieve that noble aim, we need to critically examine the position that women can occupy. Undoubtedly, we know that both men and women can’t achieve (full) concentration if the women should stand in the front of men or stay side by side. Hence, the best position and practical arrangement are for the women to form their rows behind the men. Thank you!

I beseech Allāh to grant us a better understanding. (Aameen)