Q. My brother passed away. I performed the janaza prayers at the masjid. My friends tell me that I was wrong to perform the janaza prayer because I am a woman.

A. Janaza salah is not wajib for woman. If you did it behind the men, then the salaah is valid.  However, please abstain from such an act in the future, especially if it can be avoided. One must not introduce new things into deen.

According to all the great scholars of the past, a woman in living in an everyday normal situation should abstain from attending and performing the janaza salah. This had been the practice of the female companions (peace be upon them all) who lived at the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) as well as the Tabein and those that followed their generation. Abstaining from the janaza salah and burial site had continued to be practiced by all great scholars who regulated their lives in accordance to the sunnah. For maximum benefit and success, we too should adhere to such practices.

Allah certainly knows best.