Women have prayed in mosques since the earliest days of Islam, and they remain an essential part of mosque life today. How women's space is arranged, however, varies a great deal between countries, communities and traditions, so this guide describes the common patterns neutrally rather than presenting any single model as the rule. It forms part of our overview of Visiting a mosque.
A note from history
In the earliest period, accounts describe women and men praying together in the open courtyard of the Prophet's mosque in Medina. Over the centuries, as mosque architecture developed, it became common practice to arrange separate areas for women and men. Both the historical record and contemporary practice show real variety, and it is best to approach each mosque on its own terms.
How women's prayer space is arranged today
You are likely to encounter one of several arrangements:
- a separate room set aside for women, sometimes with its own entrance;
- a screened or partitioned section within the main hall;
- a balcony or gallery overlooking the prayer hall below;
- a shared hall in which women pray in rows behind the men.
The reasoning usually combines modesty, comfort and the physical movements of prayer, in which worshippers bow and prostrate in close rows. Facilities differ widely in size and quality: in some countries surveys have found that a large majority of mosques, on the order of three quarters, provide women's facilities, though the nature and extent of these vary, and provision continues to improve in many places.
Participation beyond prayer
Women's involvement in the mosque reaches well past the prayer lines. Women take part in Qur'an study and teaching, in charitable and welfare work, in education classes, and increasingly in the committees and organisation that keep a mosque running. In some settings women have taken on significant pastoral and community roles, offering guidance and support within their communities. The picture is diverse and changing, and it differs from one tradition and country to another.
What this means for a visit
If you are a woman visiting a mosque, you will usually be shown to the women's prayer area or to a suitable place to sit. On open days and guided tours, hosts explain the layout and make sure everyone is comfortable. The general courtesies are the same for all visitors, modest dress, shoes off, a quiet voice, and are set out in our Mosque etiquette guide. If it is your first time, our step-by-step Your first visit to a mosque walks you through the whole sequence.
Understanding the building
The way space is divided reflects the wider design of the mosque, its halls, galleries and entrances. To see how these features fit together and how they evolved, our companion pillar What is a mosque? explains the anatomy of a mosque. And when you are ready to visit, use MosqueFinder to find mosques near you; a quick call ahead can confirm the facilities available for women.