Some would wonder about the aforementioned ruling of attending the Sal?t by women. Let such people know that this is indeed the truth -no doubt- for the many ah?d?th that support it -one of which is ’Umm ‘Atiyyah’s in which the prophet ( - ) clearly orders women to attend this Sal?t. Ab? Bakr’s statement -which was narrated by Ibn Ab? Shaibah- is another supporting narration. He ( - رضي الله عنه -) said: ‘It is an obligation on every women to attend Sal?tul Eidain’. (1)

At-Tah?wi and others claimed that “’Umm ‘Atiyyah’s had?th was abrogated for his ( - ) order for women -whether young or old- to attend the Eid Sal?t was probably at the beginning of Isl?m for the purpose of increasing the number of muslims in order to cast fear in the hearts of their enemies. These days, however, this is not needed”.!!

Many scholars -one of whom is Al-Karm?n?- refuted Al-Tah?wi’s view that abrogation is not proved through probability and “the time of the had?th is not known” -as Al-Karm?n? stated. Besides, Ibn Abb?s’s narration indicates that he attended this Sal?t while still a young boy and this was followed by the opening of Makkah. Accordingly, the point “of being weak” At-Tah?w? raised is not true. In addition to that, the real cause for women attending this Sal?t is clearly stated in ’Umm ‘Atiyyah’s had?th; namely: “to witness goodness and Khutbah with other muslims and enjoy the blessings of this day. None of the Sah?bah contradicted ’Umm ‘Atiyyah’s Fat?w? delivered in accordance with this had?th. It is worth mentioning here that Al-Tah?w?’s words: “to cast fear in the hearts of their enemies” need verification for seeking women’s help in wars is a real sign of weakness not power. (2)

It is worth mentioning here that doing Sal?t by women in the mosque is valid and it is of the affirmed Sunnan -no muslim would