Can a woman lead other women in congregational shalat during Haji?

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

Sheikh Ibn Baz confirmed that a woman may lead other women in shalat, and this is particularly beneficial during Haji 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.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen added that a women-only congregation earns the reward of congregational shalat. He encouraged women during Haji to organize their own congregational shalat in their tents if they cannot join the main congregation. The female imam should be the most knowledgeable of Al-Quran among the group. He noted that while women's congregational shalat is not wajib upon them (unlike men), it is a sunnah Sunnah that brings additional reward.