Can a woman lead other women in congregational namaz during Hac?

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

Sheikh Ibn Baz confirmed that a woman may lead other women in namaz, and this is particularly beneficial during Hac 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 namaz. He encouraged women during Hac to organize their own congregational namazs in their tents if they cannot join the main congregation. The female imam should be the most knowledgeable of Kur'an among the group. He noted that while women's congregational namaz is not farz upon them (unlike men), it is a sunnet Sunnah that brings additional reward.