to her, due to the evidence that no adhan or iqamah is legislated for other women, so she is specifically assigned the duty of [leading prayer due to her being assigned] the adhan and iqamah. As for the hermaphrodite (khuntha), it is not permissible to lead a man; because it is possible that he is a woman. And a hermaphrodite like himself does not lead him, because it is possible that the imam is a woman and the follower is a man. It is not permissible for a woman to lead him, due to the possibility that he is a man. Al-Qadi said: I have seen that Abu Hafs al-Barmaki stated that the prayer of the hermaphrodite is not valid in congregation; because if he stands with [the men, it is possible he is a woman, and if he stands with] the women or alone or follows a woman, it is possible he is a man. And if he leads the men, it is possible he is a woman. And if he leads the women and stands in their midst, it is possible he is a man; and if he stands in front of them, it is possible he is a woman. It is possible that his prayer is valid in this instance, and in another case: that is, if he stands in the row of men as a follower; for if a woman stands in the row of men, her prayer does not become void, nor does the prayer of those next to her.
Section: It is disliked for a man to lead foreign women in prayer if there is no man with them; because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade a man from being alone with a foreign woman. There is no harm in him leading his unmarriageable kin (mahram), or in him leading women along with men, for women used to pray with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the mosque, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led women in prayer, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led Anas and his mother in their house.
(7) Omitted from the original (al-Asl). (8) Abu Hafs Umar ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Barmaki. He was among the jurists, the notables, the ascetics, and the devout. He was a man of vast legal opinions and beneficial writings. He died in the year 387 AH. Tabaqat al-Hanabilah 2/153-155. (9) Omitted from the original (al-Asl). (10) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: Bab la yakhluwanna rajul bi-imra'ah illa dhu mahram..., from Kitab al-Nikah. Sahih al-Bukhari 7/48. And Muslim, in: Bab safar al-mar'ah ma'a mahram ila hajj wa ghayrihi, from Kitab al-Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/978. And al-Tirmidhi, in: Bab ma ja'a fi karahiyat al-dukhul 'ala al-mughaybat, from Abwab al-Rida', and in: Bab ma ja'a fi luzum al-jama'ah, from Abwab al-Fitan. 'Aridah al-Ahwadhi 5/120, 9/9, 10. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 1/222, 3/339, 446. (11) See for all of that what will be mentioned in issue 255, pages 38, 39.
