Should women perform tarawih prayers in the mosque or at home?

A woman should pray tarawih [prayer performed at night in the month of Ramadan] wherever she likes. If she wants to pray at home she can, and if she wants to go the mosque to find strength and support by being with her sisters and brothers in worshiping God, she can. What is important is not where she prays, as a woman should pray wherever she feels is more conducive to awe and humility towards God the Almighty. Imam Al-Shafi’i held that both males and females earn the selfsame reward for praying tarawih whether they offer them in the mosque or at home.

Accordingly, a woman should not be prevented from going to the mosque, either to pray, attend lessons, pray tarawih or recite the Quran. This is what our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us when he directed men not to prevent women from frequenting the houses of God. The Prophet’s words which he directed to women, “Your prayer at home is good” is based on a woman’s actions being based on [veiling]. As for women going out to buy, for leisure, and other purposes, all of this is permissible. Therefore there is nothing wrong with women frequenting mosques and men cannot prevent them from this.

And God the Almighty knows best.