Attending prayers in congregation in a mosque where women are uncovered when doing wudoo’

Attending prayers in congregation with the Muslims is
obligatory, as we have stated in many answers. See no.
8918 and
120. You
should strive to pray in congregation in a mosque in which the call to
prayer is given and you should try to do wudoo’ in your house or place of
work. If you have to do wudoo’ in the mosque, then you should lower your
gaze and try to keep away from places where women are, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking
at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual
acts). That is purer for them”

[al-Noor 24:30]

We also advise  believing women to fear Allaah with regard to
coming to the mosque. They should realize that they are coming to a place
that is one of the noblest places on earth to perform an act of worship that
is one of the greatest acts of worship. So it is not befitting for them to
disobey their Lord by uncovering that which He has commanded them to cover,
and it is not right for her to crowd with men in the place where they do
wudoo’. If they cannot find a place to do wudoo’ then they should pray in
their homes and that is better for them and brings a greater reward, as it
says in Sunan Abi Dawood (570) and elsewhere. It was narrated from
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A woman’s prayer in
her house is better than her prayer in hercourtyard,and her prayer in her cabinet is better than herprayer in her courtyard.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

It says in ‘Awn al-Ma’bood:  

“A woman’s prayer in her house” means the inner room, as it
is more concealing. “Is better than her prayer in her
courtyard” refers to the area inside the (traditional Arabic) house onto
which all the doors of the house open, which is less concealing than the
inner room. And “and her prayer in her cabinet” this refers to a small room
inside a large house, in which she keeps her precious things such. 

“better than herprayer in her house”
because a woman should be concealed as much a possible.  

In Sunan al-Tirmidhi (1173) it is narrated from
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Woman is ‘awrah and
when she goes out the Shaytaan gets his hopes up (of tempting her and
tempting others by her).” 

Ibn Khuzaymah (1686) and al-Tabaraani (9481) added: “And she
is never closer to the Countenance of Allaah than when she is in the
innermost part of her house.” 

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah
(2688). 

It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to annoy the Muslims
by uncovering that which Allaah has enjoined her to cover of her arms and
legs. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the
women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies
(i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the
way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable
women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft‑Forgiving, Most
Merciful”

[al-Ahzaab 33:59]

She should not crowd with men in their places, or annoy them
by mixing with them in a manner that is not permissible or that will cause
them hardship. 

Abu Dawood (5272) narrated from Hamzah ibn Abi Usayd
al-Ansaari that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) say, as he was leaving the mosque, and men were
mixing with women in the street, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to the women: “Draw back, and do not
walk in the middle of the road; keep to the sides of the road.” Then the
women used to keep so close to the walls that their garments would catch on
the walls because they kept so close to them. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.              

If this is the ruling with regard to walking in the street,
when a women is observing complete hijab and wrapping her clothes around her
properly, then how about in the case of wudoo’, when the calves and forearms
are uncovered? 

To sum up: You should avoid places of fitnah and mixing as
much as you can, and choose for yourself the mosque where it is least likely
that women go or uncover their ‘awrahs there. Try to do wudoo’ in your
house, and avoid places of fitnah. 

And Allaah knows
best.