How is a woman’s salah different from a man’s?
The position of women during salah in the Hanafi Madhhab
In the Hanafi school of thought, the manner in which a woman performs salah differs in several key ways from that of a man. It differentiates between the prayer posture of men and women based on modesty and humility.
1. Standing (Qiyām)
A woman should stand with her feet together, unlike a man, who stands with his feet slightly apart. This reflects the principle of modesty.
ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“When a woman performs salah, she should join her thighs and (keep) one limb upon the other.”
(Sunan al-Bayhaqī, vol. 2, p. 222)
2. Takbīr al-Tahrīmah (Opening Takbīr)
When commencing the prayer, a woman should raise her hands only to shoulder level, unlike a man, who raises them to his ears.
M ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“The woman should raise her hands to the height of her shoulders.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 1, p. 239)
3. Placement of the hands
A woman places her hands on chest rather than at her navel.
“A woman is ordered to be covered, so she places her hands on her chest as it is more modest.” Al-Marghinani (Al-Hidayah 1/56):
3. Rukūʿ (Bowing)
In rukūʿ, a woman should bow less deeply than a man. She should bend only slightly, keep her arms close to her sides, and not stretch her back fully horizontal.
The hadith from ʿAlī (RA) also states:
“She should not spread herself out in rukūʿ and sujūd as a man does.”
(Sunan al-Bayhaqī, vol. 2, p. 222)
4. Sujūd (Prostration)
In sujūd, she should keep her limbs close together, her stomach against her thighs, and her arms against her body, unlike a man who spreads his limbs and keeps his abdomen away from his thighs.:
It was reported about Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her):
“I saw Asma’ bint Abi Bakr, when she prostrated, she adhered her stomach to her thighs as closely as possible.”
Ibn Abi Shaybah (1/270)
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“When a woman prostrates, let her draw herself together and bring her stomach close to her thighs.”
Ibn Abi Shaybah
5. Sitting (Jalsah and Tashahhud)
During the sitting positions, a woman should sit in the tawarruk position:
She should place both legs to the right side, resting on her left hip, and keep her thighs together.
A man, in contrast, sits on his left foot, with the right foot upright.:
Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“When a woman sits in salah, she should place one thigh over the other and tuck herself in as much as possible.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 1, p. 270)
6. Qirāʾah (Recitation)
A woman should recite in a low voice, especially if there are non-mahram men nearby. A man, depending on the prayer, may recite aloud or silently.:
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Do not speak softly, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire…”
(Sūrat al-Aḥzāb, 33:32)
This verse has been cited by scholars to highlight the need for precaution and modesty in speech, particularly in mixed settings.
7. Leading Salah (Imāmah)
A woman may not lead men in salah under any circumstance in the Hanafi madhhab. If she leads a group of women, she should stand in the middle of the row, not in front.
It was reported that:
“‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) led us in prayer and stood in the middle of the row.”
Reported by ‘Abd al-Razzaq and Ibn Abi Shaybah“Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) would lead women in prayer and stand among them.”
Ibn Abi Shaybah (2/88)
Why the differences?
The differences stem from the principle of satr (concealment) and ḥayāʾ (modesty), which are deeply emphasised in Islam, regarding women. By performing salah in a way that limits exposure and unnecessary movement, a woman preserves her modesty, especially in communal settings.
Statements of Scholars
- Imām Muḥammad (student of Abū Ḥanīfah) said in Kitāb al-Athar:
“A woman performs salah differently from a man, she brings her limbs together, bends less in rukūʿ, and sits differently, all to maintain concealment.” - Al-Kāsānī writes in Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ:
“The woman’s entire body is ʿawrah in salah, so her prayer should be more concealing.”
The Hanafi madhhab recognises clear distinctions between the prayer postures of men and women. These are based on the statements of the Companions, and the Islamic principles of modesty and dignity. Therefore every posture in a woman’s prayer that enhances modesty and reduces exposure is preferred and recommended in the Hanafi school.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim 15th June 2025