Q: Some shaykhs in Tanzania gave a Fatwa that women are not permitted to perform Salah (Prayer) in Masjids (mosques), and that they are ritually impure and therefore, not allowed to enter Masjids, a fatwa that raised dispute among Muslims.

A: A Muslim is never impure, male or female, alive or dead. Subsequently, women are permitted to enter the Masjid as long as they are not Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity) or in menses during the periods of these states they may only walk across the Masjid quickly and cautiously lest any drops of blood should fall in the Masjid, for Allah (Exalted be He) says, ...nor when you are in a state of Janâba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. The wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to visit him while he was in a state of I`tikaf (seclusion for worship in a Masjid). Furthermore, there was a slave girl in the Prophet's Masjid who used to collect trash from the Masjid and clean it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade men to prevent their wives from offering Salah in the Masjid, as he (peace be upon him) said, Do not forbid the female Servants of Allah from (going into) the mosques of Allah It is also authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The best of the men's rows (in prayer) are the first rows and the worst is the last; but the best of the woman's row is the last and the worst of their rows is the first. Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y, Al-Tirmidhy, and Ibn Majah. (Part No. 7; Page No. 335) This shows the state of women's rows in the congregational Salah. It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said, If your women ask permission to go to the Masjid at night, allow them. Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y, and Al-Tirmidhy. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.