Q1: Can you explain in detail if the way of offering Salah is same for men and women? A1. Yes, there is no difference in the way prayer is performed by men and women, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Pray as you have seen me praying.” (Bukhari), and this command applies to both men and women, and not for men only. Q2. Can women also perform prayers in the mosque? I heard it's not allowed, but in Saudi Arabia almost all the mosques have separate prayer rooms for ladies. Please explain. A2. It is allowed for women to pray in the mosque. Women used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in his mosque in Madinah, and they used to leave before men after the prayer was concluded. Umm Salmah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) concluded the prayer with taslim, the women would depart and enter their houses before Allah's messenger departed. The Prophet and the men would stay in their places and when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got up, the men would then get up. It is better for a woman to pray at home, but if she wants to pray in the mosque, then it is her right to do so, And the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not prevent the women from going out to the mosques, even though their homes are better for them.” Q3. Can women also pray Salatul Janazah? A3. Yes they can pray Salatul Janazah, but they should not follow the deceased to the graveyard or visit the cemetery at any time. Q4. Is it true that one has the option of breaking his fast if his fasting is not in the month of Ramadan? A4. This depends on the reason behind his fast. If it was supererogatory (nafilah) fasting, then he has the choice to complete his fasting or break it at any time, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who is observing a supererogatory fast is his own master; if he wishes he may (continue to) fast and if he wishes he may break his fast.” Reported by Ahmad and classed as Saheeh by Al-Albaani. But if the person starts an obligatory fast such as a fasting to make up for a day that he missed in Ramadaan, or expiation for breaking an oath (kafaarat yameen) then it is not permissible for him to break that fast unless he has a legitimate excuse. Q5. If someone joins the congregational Salah while the Imam is in the final Tashahhud, will he attain the reward of congregational Salah or not? A5. The answer of Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta to this question was that “Anyone who joins the Imam during the last Tashahhud will not be considered to have completed the congregational Salah, but they will get the reward of whatever parts of Salah they pray with the Imam. To be considered having joined the congregational Salah, a latecomer should offer at least one Rak'ah (unit of prayer) with the Imam”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who prays one Rak`ah from Salah (in congregation) has prayed the (congregational) Salah. However, in the case stated by the questioner, it is better to join the Imam in Salah based on the Hadith: Whatever (part of Salah) you arrive at, pray, and whatever (part) you have missed, make up for it. __
