Introduction
In every era there were specialists in the knowledge of Deen. Even in the time of the Sahaabah (R.A.), there were many Sahaabah (R.A.) who issued fatwas. According to Haafiz Ibnul Qayyim Rahimullah, there were over one undred and thirty such Sahaabah (R.A.).
In recent times, there is a movement pushing the masses to always ask for the proof and not blindly follow anyone. Beautiful slogans such as "follow only the Qur'aan and Sunnah" are used to whip up the sentiments of people. While the slogan is perfect, the object is to drive people away from "taqleed"(following) of one of the four Imaams of Fiqh, viz. Imaam Abu Hanifa, Imaam Maalik, Imaam Shaafi'ee and Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal Rahimullah.
We hope with the help of Allah Ta'ala that this treatise will prove beneficial in establishing that every aspect of the salaah as explained by these Imaams conformed to the Sunnah. Apart from explaining the importance of salaah as well as the entire method of the salaah of a female proven from the Ahaadith, we will also discuss certain pertinent masaail regarding salaah which the Salafis make an issue of (e.g. women attending congregational salaah, their salaah being identical to the salaah of men, etc.). It should be noted that when explaining the method of salaah of women, we have sufficed on presenting authentic Ahaadith with providing their sources from the respective compilations. We have also explained the position and status of the Ahaadith as reported from the respective Imaams of Hadith.
We make dua that Allah Ta'ala accept this effort and make it a means of the Ummah being guided towards the path of the Sunnah.
Mufti Zakaria Makada