I happened to read that Prophet Mohammed appointed a lady Umme Waraqa as imam to a locality to lead Jamaat or congregational prayer where both men and women followers prayed. Is this incident reported through authentic sources? If this report is credible, it seems to me strange and surprising that though I attended hundreds of Islamic classes and read a lot of articles, not a single maulavi has ever mentioned this during discussion about rights and roles of Muslim women in Ummah. Is it part of usual “male censorship” made by patriarchal religious scholars? When I asked about this, a moulavi told me that though it is a true narration, it is an exceptional case. But still my surprise remains, because I could never hear citing this incident by Maulavis even as an isolated case till date. I would like to know more about the authenticity of the report because it will be a potential ideological tool to deconstruct patriarchal reading of Islam? Expecting in-depth and detailed reply.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The Hadeeth which you mentioned in the question is the Hadeeth about Umm Waraqah in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa salalm, ordered her to lead her household in prayer, as reported by Abu Daawood and others. A group of scholars classified this Hadeeth as deficient because among its narrators is ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Khallaad Al-Ansaari, who is unknown, as well as his grandmother Layla bint Maalik, so (the chain of narration of) this Hadeeth has two unknown narrators in one single category. Even if we presume that the Hadeeth is Hasan (good) or Saheeh (sound) as classified by a group of scholars, then the Hadeeth does not mention that she used to lead men in prayer as you mentioned in the question, but it mentions “her household” and what is meant by this is women from her family; the evidence about this is the narration from Ad-Daaraqutni which reads: "She was authorized that the Athaan and the Iqaamah would be called for her, and then she would lead the women in her household.”

The majority of scholars are of the view that it is not valid for a woman to lead a man in prayer. Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni: "As regards a woman, it is not valid for her under any circumstances to lead a man in prayer, whether in obligatory prayers or supererogatory prayers according to the view of all the jurists. Abu Thawr said: “A man who was led in prayer by a woman is not obliged to make up his prayer”…..but some of our (Hanbali) scholars said: “It is permissible for a woman to lead men in Taraaweeh prayer but she would be behind them, as it was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, appointed a Mu’aththin (a person who calls the Athaan) for Umm Waraqah bint ‘Abdullaah ibn Al-Haarith, and he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered her to lead her household in prayer,” [Abu Daawood]; and this (her household) is general for men and women. However, we have the evidence (against this) which is the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “A woman is not to lead a man in prayer.” Also, a woman is not permitted to call the Athaan for men, so it is not permissible that she leads them in prayer, just like the case of the insane person (who is not eligibe to call Athaan for men nor to lead them in prayer). Indeed, the Hadeeth of Umm Waraqah indicates that she was permitted to lead the women of her household, as reported by Ad- Daaraqutni, and this is an addition that must be accepted...” [End of quote]

For more benefit on a woman leading a man in prayer, please refer to Fatwa 89729. Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A people who appoint a woman as their leader will never succeed.” [Al-Bukhari] For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 96432.

Even if we presume that the Hadeeth of Umm Waraqah proves that she used to lead men in prayer, then saying that this is an exceptional case is also a strong statement as this was not spread amongst the Companions . It is for this reason that Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni: “If we presume that this is confirmed about Umm Waraqah, then this is specific to her; the evidence about this is that calling the Athaan and the Iqaamah are not legislated for women, so leading the prayer is specific to her, as the Athaan and Iqaamah were specifically called for her (i.e. she was authorized by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that the Athaan and the Iqaamah would be called for her.” [End of quote]

Therefore, there is no need for you to be surprised and there is no “male censorship” or “patriarchal reading of Islam” because the Muslim scholars and jurists throughout the centuries did not have a reading of Islam that was dominated by desire or the love to have control and dominance over women; rather, they were great scholars who used to say only that which is confirmed and proven in the Quran and the Sunnah and they did not fear the blame of the blamers when speaking about Allaah. This issue was written in their books and they wrote every detail that was mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about it and they did not hide anything while doing so, and then they clarified the objective of the Sharee'ah by combining various texts that are mentioned about the issue. This is indeed the methodology of the people of guidance and rationality. It is an obligation to avoid degrading the scholars or belittling them or thinking bad of them.

Allaah Knows best.