Is There a Difference in the Way Men and Women Make Ruku (Bowing)?

Name of Questioner: Hajra

Date: 7-6-2021 02:53:01 PM

Consultant: EDC

Question:

A Quran tutor of mine said that when a woman does ruku she shouldn't bend fully like men. When I asked for evidence , he said that it was good according to Imam Abu Hanifa. What is the correct way?

Thank you very much for your question. It is our pleasure to answer it.

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright.

Dear sister, the way in which men and women's prayer is the same in each part of the prayer, bowing, prostration, sitting, and so on. This is based on the following evidence:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Pray as you have seen me praying." (Al-Bukhari)

This is addressed to both men and woman. However, Imam An-Nawawi said: "Al-Shafi’i said, in al-Mukhtasar: "there is no difference between men and women in prayer, except that women should keep the parts of their bodies close to one another, and they should make their stomachs touch their thighs during sujud. This is more covering and preferable, in ruku and the rest of the prayer too." (Al-Majmu`). 

And Allah knows best.