FatwaJohorPrayer (Salah)
PERMOHONAN FATWA RUANGAN WANITA DITINGKAT BAWAH MASJID ABDULLAH FAKEH PARIT RAJA YANG SEDANG DIBINA
Is congregational prayer valid for women worshippers in an enclosed lower-floor area of a mosque when the imam is on the upper floor?
Short answer
Scholars hold two views: the first says the prayer is invalid because the women must turn away from the qibla to reach the imam, while the second says it is valid because they are within the mosque area.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Johor State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Fatwa Negeri Johor
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Scholars hold two views: the first says the prayer is invalid because the women must turn away from the qibla to reach the imam, while the second says it is valid because they are within the mosque area. The prayer of women on the lower floor is valid according to the second view. To avoid disagreement, the mosque committee is advised to exit the dispute, and the Department does not approve building an enclosed women's area where the movements of the imam and congregation cannot be seen. It suggests a two-storey design with an open women's area on the upper floor.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jika dibina masjid tersebut seperti yang dirancang maka solat makmum perempuan yang berada ditingkat bawah sedangkan imam berada ditingkat atas adalah sah sekira mengikut pandangan yang kedua.
Read the full fatwa on the Johor website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Johor State Mufti Department. “PERMOHONAN FATWA RUANGAN WANITA DITINGKAT BAWAH MASJID ABDULLAH FAKEH PARIT RAJA YANG SEDANG DIBINA”, 12 October 2011. https://said.johor.gov.my/perkhidmatan/paparan_detail_fatwa.php?id=707. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/women-prayer-lower-floor-mosque-imam-upstairs/