The Tribulation of Women Coming to the Haram for Salaat
Worse than the above [women abandoning hijaab in the Haram and mixing with the males] – a common tribulation – is that women come to the Haram for the five times Salaat like men. In spite of there being separate doors for women to enter and designated places for them to perform their Salaat, however, in view of the crowds they cannot reach the designated places. They then stand in the Saffs of the males and read their Salaat.
Firstly, just as it is Afdhal (more meritorious) [in fact necessary] for women to read their Salaat alone in their homes at home, similarly, in Makkah and Madinah too it is Afdhal [in fact, necessary] for them to perform their Salaats in their hotel rooms, etc. without Jamaat.
They will get more [or the same] thawaab for reading their Namaaz in their rooms in Makkah and Madinah than the males who read in Masjidul Haraam and Masjidun Nabawi [or the same]. In view of this, women should read their Salaat in their rooms in the Haramain Shareefain.
In the case of them coming to Masjidul Haraam to see the Baitullah or for the purpose of Tawaaf or for Salaat and Salaam upon Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in Masjidun Nabawi and they read their Salaat with Jamaat, their Salaat will be valid provided that that they do not stand in the middle of men.
A single woman standing in between males renders the Salaat of three males invalid; the two standing on her right and left and the male who is standing in line with her. The Salaat of all three becomes invalid.
Assuming that a woman unintentionally gets caught in a Saff of males at the time of Salaat and she cannot come out, then she should sit there quietly without reading Salaat. She should not at all make intention of Salaat. Otherwise, she will spoil the Salaat of the males.
When the Imaam has terminated the Salaat then she should perform her Salaat.
For Tawaaf too women should go when the time of Salaat is over. At that time the crowds are generally less, and if unexpectedly the time of Namaaz starts then she will be able to leave upon the Azaan being given. She should quickly complete her Tawaaf and leave.
If she is in the middle of Tawaaf then she should suspend the remain Shauts (rounds) and come back and continue with the Tawaaf later when the Salaat is over. Or she can repeat the whole Tawaaf.
Be that as it may; to abstain from sinning is of utmost importance.
There are many other wrongs which women commit in the Haramain Shareefain, but in my mind the most concerning is the question of Salaat and Hijaab (Pardah).
(Mukammal Wa Mudallal Masaail-e-Haj Baraae Khawaateen)