Prayer in congregation is not obligatory for women, and a woman's prayer in her house, even on her own, is better

 

What is the ruling on prayer in congregation for a woman? Please note that she finds that she focuses better in prayer when she prays alone. How about if she finds an opportunity to pray in congregation in her house with her father or brothers, and she prays with them a second time and counts this prayer as naafil (supererogatory)?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Prayer in congregation is not obligatory for women, and a
woman’s prayer in her house on her own is better than her praying in
congregation in the mosque. 

Abu Dawood (567) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said: “Do not prevent your women from going to the mosques,
although their houses are better for them.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 515. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas
said: 

It is not obligatory for women to offer any of the five
obligatory prayers in congregation, and their prayer in their houses is
better for them than praying in the mosques, whether that is an obligatory
or naafil prayer. But if she wants to pray in the mosque, she should not be
prevented from doing so, on condition that she observe proper Islamic
etiquette when going out and when praying, by going out fully covered, not
wearing perfume, and praying behind the men. End quote from Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (8/213). 

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

With regard to women, their prayer in their houses is better
for them, whether they pray individually or in congregation. End quote, 

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz,
12/78. 

If congregational prayer is held in the house, then it is
better for the woman to pray with them and not to pray alone, whether the
congregation is women or men who are her mahrams. 

In al-Musannaf (4989), Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated from
Umm al-Hasan that she saw Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) leading the women in prayer. She stood with
them in the same row. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Tamaam al-Mannah,
p. 154. 

Al-Bayhaqi (5138) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be
pleased with her) led women in praying the obligatory prayer. She led them
standing in their midst. Classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in al-Khalaasah,
as stated in Nasab al-Raayah by al-Zayla’i (2/39). 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas
said: 

If women pray in congregation in the house, that is better,
and their (female) imam should stand in their midst in the first row, and
they should be led by the one who has most knowledge of Qur’aan and other
rulings of Islam. End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah,
8/213. 

But even if a woman feels that she focuses better when
praying on her own, it is better, if a congregational prayer is held in the
house, to pray with them, so that she may attain the virtue and reward of
prayer in congregation -- which is a great bounty -- and so that her not
praying with this congregation will not be a cause of them thinking badly of
her or thinking that she dislikes the imam or congregation. And there is the
fear that the feeling that she focuses better when she prays on her own is
just an illusion by means of which the shaytaan wants to deprive her of the
virtue of praying in congregation. 

So what she should do is pray with the congregation in the house, and strive to focus properly in prayer. 

And Allah knows best.