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Fatwa CenterWoman Leading Women in Prayer
Question
Is a woman allowed to lead women in congregational prayer?If so is she allowed to recite loudly in prayers fajr, maghrib and isha?Is a women allowed to say Aameen loud if she prays behind men? Is a woman allowed to say Aamen if she prays with women only?Where I stay we have only one Musalla and women go there on Fridays to pray salatul jummah but we pray in a separate room where we cannot see the imman but speakers are kept to hear him....Can we follow him in congregational prayer?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is permissible for a woman to lead women in the obligatory Prayers as well as in the optional Prayers. She should not stand in front of rows legislated for men. But she should stand in the middle of the first row of the women when they perform the Prayers in congregation. If a woman leads the prayer for only one woman, then the woman follower should stand at the right side of the one who leads the Prayer. The evidence for this is narrated from ‘Aa’ishah and Umm Salamah (the wives of the Prophet) 
that they lead women in prayer and stand in middle of them. (Imams Ash-Shaafi’i and Al-Bayhaqi narrated it through a good chain). This is the most correct opinion of the Muslim scholars concerning a woman leading other women in Prayers. Though some scholars dislike a woman leading other women in Prayers.
It is forbidden for a woman to lead men in any Prayer regardless of whether they are non-Mahram or unmarriageable, adults or children.
If she is praying alone or in the presence of women only or men who are Mahaarim (unmarriageable persons) for her, she may pray with a loud voice, if no non-Mahram men can hear her voice. This is the preponderant opinion of the Muslim scholars. However, some scholars believe that she is not allowed to pray in high voice even though no non-Mahram men can hear her.
Following an Imam in Prayers while in a place separate from the mosque other than its courtyard is not correct. But if the rows are connected to each other or the voice of the Imam is heard or following the Imam is possible by seeing him or seeing the persons who are following him in prayer, then praying in that place is permissible.
Allah knows best.
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