Short answer
Yes, women may enter the masjid, and the Prophet ﷺ told men not to stop them. He also said a woman's prayer at home is better for her. The later Hanafi jurists disliked women attending congregational prayers because of fitnah, but many Hanafi scholars today encourage using the women's area when you are out or for learning.
A woman's prayer at home is more rewarding. The relied-upon position of the later Hanafi jurists is that attending the congregation is makruh for women because of the change in times. Many contemporary Hanafi scholars allow it with full hijab, no perfume and proper separate space, especially when she is already out or attending a lesson.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Permitted, without perfume or adornment; disliked for young women who draw attention; home is better.
- Maliki
- Permitted for older women and occasionally for young women when no fitnah is feared; home is better.
- Hanbali
- Permitted without perfume; her home is better for her.
Explanation
In the time of the Prophet ﷺ women prayed in his masjid, in rows behind the men, including at Fajr and Isha. He told the men not to prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah. In the same breath he said their homes are better for them, and in another hadith he said a woman's prayer in the inner part of her house is better than in her courtyard.
The classical Hanafi books record that, after the early generations, the jurists came to dislike women going to congregational prayer because of the fitnah of their times. That is the text of the Hanafi fatwa books. Scholars in the Hanafi tradition working in the West often point out that Muslim women today are out at work, college and the shops anyway, so praying in a masjid's women's section is better than missing the prayer or praying in a car park. Many also encourage women to attend lessons and Eid in a modest way.
Etiquette for sisters:
- No perfume when going to the masjid. The Prophet ﷺ said this directly.
- Full hijab and loose clothing.
- Use the women's entrance and area.
- Do not enter the prayer hall during your period. See going to the mosque on your period.
Women are not obliged to pray Jumuah. If a woman does pray it in the masjid, it counts in place of Zuhr. See how women pray.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 900
Sahih... لا تمنعوا إماء الله مساجد الله ...
"Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah."
Shows that women may attend the masjid.
Sunan Abi Dawud 567
Graded sahih... وبيوتهن خير لهن ...
"Do not prevent your women from the mosques, though their homes are better for them."
Shows that home prayer is more rewarding for women.
Sahih Muslim 443
Sahih... إذا شهدت إحداكن المسجد فلا تمس طيبا ...
"When one of you women attends the mosque, she should not wear perfume."
Sets one of the conditions for women going to the masjid.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on congregation (bab al-imama). Women's attendance at congregation is disliked on the position given for fatwa because of the corruption of the times.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on congregation. Explains the reason for the ruling.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.