Hadith Commentary: Permitting Women's Attendance at Mosques

This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book: Friday Prayer, Hadith: 899) demonstrates the Prophet's wisdom in balancing religious rights with societal considerations.

Scholarly Interpretation

The phrase "at night" indicates the Prophet's concern for women's safety and modesty. Nighttime travel typically involves fewer crowds and reduced intermingling, thus preserving both religious participation and social propriety.

Classical scholars like Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this permission reflects Islam's recognition of women's spiritual needs while accounting for practical circumstances.

Legal Rulings Derived

The majority of scholars conclude that women's mosque attendance is permissible (mubah) rather than obligatory, with conditions ensuring safety and modesty.

This hadith establishes that preventing women from mosques contradicts the Prophet's explicit teaching, though local conditions may warrant certain restrictions for their protection.

Contemporary Application

Modern scholars emphasize that this ruling applies equally to daytime prayers when proper arrangements for women's sections and safe access are provided.

The essential principle remains: women should not be barred from mosques without legitimate Islamic justification, as the Prophet himself permitted their attendance.