Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from (going to) the mosques of Allah, but let them go out without perfume and unadorned
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا تَمْنَعُوا إِمَاءَ اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ، وَلَكِنْ لِيَخْرُجْنَ وَهُنَّ تَفِلَاتٌ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from (going to) the mosques of Allah, but let them go out without perfume and unadorned."
Narrated by Abu DāwūdGradeHasan
Explanation
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade a woman's guardian or the one responsible for her from preventing women from attending the mosques. He also instructed women, when going out, to do so without wearing perfume or displaying adornment, so that they would not be a cause of temptation for men.
Benefits
- Permission is granted for a woman to pray in the mosque if there is no fear of temptation and she goes out without adornment or perfume.
- This Hadīth has been used as evidence that a woman should not leave her husband's house without his permission, since the command was directed to husbands to give their permission.
- Islam's concern for women is evident in that it does not prevent them from doing what may bring them goodness, such as going out to seek knowledge and similar beneficial pursuits.
- The man's guardianship and responsibility over the woman are affirmed.
Reference
سنن أبي داود (1/ 423) (565). شرح سنن أبي داود للعباد (78/ 6). شرح أبي داود للعيني (3/ 50). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر ص(109).