Women’s Imamate in Prayer. A Comparative Jurisprudential Study

Abstract

This research paper studies a jurisprudential issue of concern to Islamic society: the permissibility of women leading other women in prayer. Jurists have differed on its ruling, leading to widespread debate among both scholars and laypeople, especially in public and private gatherings and during Ramadan concerning Tarawih prayers. The study examines this issue within the Maliki school and other jurisprudential schools by presenting scholars' opinions, reasons for their differences, evidence for each view, scientific discussion, refutation of weak arguments, and finally favoring the most sound and evidence-supported opinion.