2/21. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 462 — Mosque Door Etiquette for Women
Separating The Women From The Men In The Masjid
Hadith About the Mosque Door for Women
Sunan Abi Dawud : 462
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 462
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، وَأَبُو مَعْمَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ تَرَكْنَا هَذَا الْبَابَ لِلنِّسَاءِ " . قَالَ نَافِعٌ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ حَتَّى مَاتَ . وَقَالَ غَيْرُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ قَالَ عُمَرُ وَهُوَ أَصَحُّ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Ibn 'Umar reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: If we left this door for women (it would have been better). Nafi' said: Ibn 'Umar did not enter (the door) until his death. The other except 'Abd al-Warith said: This was said by 'Umar (and not by Ibn 'Umar) and that is more correct.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 462In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 72English translation : Book 2, Hadith 462
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 462
This hadith about the mosque door for women teaches care in shared worship spaces. The report says, “If we left this door for women,” showing a simple way to make mosque entry easier and more respectful. Nafi' also reports that Ibn 'Umar did not enter that door until his death, which shows how seriously he treated the matter. The text also notes that another version says the statement was from 'Umar, and that this is more correct. So the safe explanation is that the report points to mosque entrance etiquette and respect for a door assigned to women. It is about order, respect, and avoiding crowding in the mosque.
What we learn from this hadith
- A mosque entrance can be set aside for women to make access clearer and more respectful.
- Respecting a designated mosque door is part of good mosque manners.
- The narration shows care in preserving the more correct wording of a report.
- Men should avoid using a space that has been reserved for women.
