5. `A’ishah reported:
Sa`d was wounded during the Battle of the Al-Khandaq (Ditch)… Then, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set up a tent in the Mosque (for him) to be able to visit him at such a close distance. [6]
Commenting on this narration, Ibn Hajar stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) let Sa`d stay in Rufaydah’s tent in his Mosque, and she was known for treating the wounded. He said, “let him stay in her tent so that I can visit him from a close distance.“ [7]
6. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the following incident:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to stand on a tree trunk when he delivered his sermons. So, a woman from the Ansar said to him, “O Messenger of Allah! I have a slave carpenter, shall I get him construct a pulpit for you?”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) responded, “Yes“.
So, the Prophet started using the pulpit, and one Friday, while he was delivering a sermon standing on it, the tree trunk issued a groaning sound like that of a child. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commented, “Indeed, this (trunk) wept due to what it missed of Dhikr” [8]
Women participating in festive events in the mosque
7. `A’ishah reported:
It was the day of `Eid and some Ethiopians were playing with shields and spears. Either I requested Allah’s Messenger or he himself asked me whether I would like to see the display. I replied in the affirmative.
So, he let me stand behind him; my cheek was touching his cheek and he was saying, “Carry on, O Bani Arfida (i.e., Ethiopians)!” When I got tired, he asked me if that was enough. I replied in the affirmative and he told me to leave. (Al-Bukhari) [9]
Women and charity collection
8. Jabir ibn `Abdullah said:
I attended the `Eid Prayer along with the Messenger of Allah; he started with the prayer, before the sermon, without an Adhan or an Iqamah. Then, he stood up leaning on Bilal, commanded (people to) fear Allah and encouraged obedience to Him. He admonished the men and exhorted them, and then moved towards the women.
When he reached the women place, he admonished and exhorted them and said, “Give out charities, for most of you are the fuel of Hellfire“.
Hence, an ordinary, dark-cheeked woman stood up and asked, “Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?”
He replied, “Because you complain much and show ingratitude to your spouses“.
So, they started giving out their jewelry in charity, throwing their earrings and rings in Bilal’s garment. [10]
Women maintained the Prophet’s Mosque
9. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that an African woman used to clean the Mosque. One day, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked about her and he was informed that she had died. He said, “Why did you not inform me? Guide me to her grave.”
So, he approached her grave and offered the funeral prayer for her there. [11]
10. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw some sputum in the Qiblah of the Masjid. He got so angry that his face turned red.
So, a woman from the Ansar went and scratched it off, and put some perfume in its place. The Messenger of Allah commended her act saying: ‘How good this is.'”[12]
Conclusion
It is permissible for women to attend all kinds of social, charitable or entertainment activities in the mosques, to set next to close male relatives during these activities, to practice i`tikaf and to visit those performing i`tikaf.
[1] Al-Bukhari, chapter on fasting 5/177
[2] Editor’s note: according to scholars, this question means, “Is the real purpose of pitching these tents devotion and worship or is it only a matter of wives’ rivalry and competition?”
[3] Al-Bukhari, chapter on women i`tikaf, 3/48-49.
[4] Al-Bukhari (3/49), chapter on houses of the prophet’s wives, Muslim (4/1712); Al-Baihaqi in As-Sunan Al-Kubra (4/529); chapter on woman’s visiting her husband in i`tikaf; Ibn Khuzaimah (3/349) in his Sahih, Chapter on concession (rukhsah) for woman to visit her husband in I`tikaf; Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, chapter on permissibility of woman’s visiting her husband in i`tikaf during night; and others.
[5] Al-Bukhari 3/37; and Muslim 2/798. The report quoted here is Muslim’s version.
[6] Al-Bukhari’s Sahih, chapter on expeditions, 8/416, and Muslim’s Sahih, chapter on jihad, 5/160.
[7] Fath Al-Bari 8/415.
[8] Ibn Abi Shaibah, Al-Mussanaf, 6/319
[9] Al-Bukhari, chapter on the two `Eids 3/95, and Muslim, chapter on the two `Eids 3/22.
[10] Muslim, chapter on the two `Eids 2/603.
[11] Al-Bukhari’s Sahih, chapter on expeditions, 8/416, and Muslim’s Sahih, chapter on jihad, 5/160.
[12] An-Nisa’i in Sunan (2/52) and authenticated by Al-Albani.