The Hadith in question: Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two Rak’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah.” He said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Complete, complete, complete.'” Jami` At-Tirmidhi 586. Hasan (Al-Albani).
Question that was sent to Shaikh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz (Rahimahullah)-
Presenter: “After this, a message was received by the program from one of the sisters, who wrote (B.S.) from Riyadh, asking and saying: “It is mentioned in a Hadith that whoever sits after Fajr prayer until sunrise, remembering Allah at their prayer spot, will receive the reward of Hajj and Umrah. The Ahlul-Ilm (the people of knowledge) said that if a woman does this in her home, she will receive half the reward. The question is: Some people say that a condition for this sitting is not to talk to anyone about worldly matters. Is this statement correct? And if it is, what should I do if my elderly mother, who has been informed about this (i.e., that I want to be silent and do Dhikr), but she forgets and talks to me about unnecessary worldly matters during my sitting? If I sit intending to seek reward from Allah, but I talk to my mother and respond to her to please her, have I performed the act of worship as required?”
The Answer (by Shaikh Ibn Baaz):
Yes, indeed, you have combined the two goods: remembering Allah (Dhikr) and pleasing your mother. And pleasing one’s mother is one of the most important obligations. Engaging in conversation with her when she initiates it is desirable and permissible, and it does not nullify or disrupt your sitting, nor does it affect your reward. Whoever sits in their prayer spot, remembers Allah, sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), glorifies Him, and makes supplications until sunrise, then prays two rak’ahs (Sunnah of Duha), these two Rak’ahs are called Sunnah of Duha or Sunnah of Ishraq, and specifically, the early Sunnah of Duha.
For this, the Hadith states that the person will receive the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah.
There is no difference between men and women (in this regard). A woman is like a man (in receiving rewards), no it is not halved, a half-Hajj! No but a Hajj that is complete. Men and women are equal in this. The hadith is general for both men and women. A woman in her home sits in her prayer space (Musallah), and the man in his prayer space in the Masjid until the sun rises, then they both pray two Rak’ahs (in their respective places of prayer). All of this is a great (source of) goodness. They should busy themselves in the remembrance of Allah, supplication, and recitation of the Qur’an, praise be to Allah. And if he talks to his brother about something needed, there is no harm in that. Or if the woman speaks to her husband, or her mother, or others for a need, there is no harm.
Presenter: May Allah reward you and be good to you. So, those who said that a woman gets half the reward are not correct?
Shaykh: That’s wrong. No, the reward is general; the ruling is the same. The man and woman are equal.
Presenter: May Allah bless you. Whether this is in the Masjid or in her home?
Shaykh: Yes, yes, in the Masjid or at home.
Presenter: May Allah bless you and be good to you.
End.
-Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna.
Mohammed Manna: B.E [Aeronautical Engineering], B.A [Islamic Studies]. Islamic Studies Teacher, Author of ‘The Biography of Prophet Muhammad (From Reliable and Credibly Established Narrations)’ [Three Volumes, 1400+ pages] which is the first book of Seerah in the English language that uses only authentic narrations for the storyline of the Biography of The Prophet [SalAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam]. Download some chapters of the book from HERE for free.
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