Can a woman lead other women in congregational الصلاة during الحج?

The majority of scholars from the Shafi'i, Hanbali, and some Hanafi scholars hold that it is جائز — and even مستحب — for a woman to lead other women in congregational الصلاة. This ruling is supported by authentic reports that both Aisha and Umm Salamah led women in الصلاة. The Maliki school considers it جائز but not مستحب.

الشيخ ابن باز confirmed that a woman may lead other women in الصلاة, and this is particularly beneficial during الحج when women are in separate tents or areas and cannot easily access the male-led congregation. He stated that the female imam should stand in the middle of the first row, not ahead of the rows, as this is how Aisha and Umm Salamah prayed when leading women.

الشيخ ابن عثيمين added that a women-only congregation earns the reward of congregational الصلاة. He encouraged women during الحج to organize their own congregational الصلوات in their tents if they cannot join the main congregation. The female imam should be the most knowledgeable of القرآن among the group. He noted that while women's congregational الصلاة is not واجب upon them (unlike men), it is a مستحب السنة that brings additional reward.