Where Should Wife Stand When Praying With Husband?

Praise be to Allah.

It is permissible for a man to lead his wife in prayer , and the woman should stand behind the man, because it is not permissible for her to stand with him, because when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led Anas and the orphan in prayer, he made Umm Sulaym – who was the mother of Anas – stand behind them . 

It is also indicated by the report narrated from Anas ibn Malik, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led him and his mother or maternal aunt in prayer. He said, “He made me stand to his right and he made the woman stand behind us.” (Muslim, al-Masajid wa Mawadi’ al-Salah, 1056) 

Al-Kasaani said: “If there is a woman praying with the imam , he should make her stand behind him.” 

Ibn Rushd al-Hafid said: “There is no dispute concerning the fact that a lone woman may pray behind the imam and that if there is also a man present, the man should pray beside the imam and the woman should pray behind him.” (See Ahkam al-Imamah wa’l-Itimam by al-Munif, p. 319-320) 

For more, please see these answers: 2034 , 12451 , 93369 , 3832 , and 65685 .

And Allah knows best.