Is giving da’wah mandatory upon the woman?

Author: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Source: Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasa'il

Question: Is giving da’wah mandatory upon the woman, and in which field does she call?

Answer: It is incumbent that we understand a principle and it is:

That which is established in regards to the men then it is applicable to the women (also) except with proof which points to (the fact that it does not apply to the women but rather only the men). And an example where the proof is specific is:

‘Aishah (Radiallahu Anha) said: “O Messenger of Allah! Is Jihaad binding upon the women?” So he said: “Jihaad is binding up them, that which entails no fighting; Hajj and Umrah.” (Musnaad Imaam Ahmad and Sunan of Daruqutni)

And this shows that Jihaad, and it is Jihaad of the enemies (of Islam), is mandatory upon the men and not mandatory upon the women. And likewise the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “The best rows for the men are the first ones and the worst rows are the last ones. And the best rows for the women are the last ones and the worst rows for them are the first ones.” (Muslim)

So the principle is that whatever is established in regards to the men, then is applies (also) to the women from the commandments and prohibitions. And that which is established in regards to the women, then it (also) applies to the men, and for this, whoever accuses a man (of fornication), it is incumbent that he be punished with eighty lashes along with the fact that the verse was (specifically) for those men who accuse chaste innocent women (of fornication). As Allah the Most High said:

“And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes…” – An-Nur (24:4)

Then we look at giving da’wah to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Is it specific to the men or is it a general, collective (effort shared by both women and men)? And that which is clarified from the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is that it is a general, collective (effort). But the field of da’wah for a woman is not like the field of da’wah for a man. So the woman gives da’wah in a woman’s gathering and not in the gathering of men. So she gives da’wah in the field which, it is possible (Islamically) for her to give da’wah in. And it is in the gatherings of women, whether it be in the schools or in the Masjid (Mosque).