Can a woman lead other women in congregational نماز during حج?

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

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