Khaberni - The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta received a question stating: A man leads his wife in the prescribed prayer at home, and he asks: Where should she stand in relation to him when she follows him in prayer? And what is the ruling if she stands on his right?
The Dar al-Ifta responded to the question by saying: If a woman wants to pray in congregation with her husband at home, she should stand behind him in a separate row whenever possible, whether she is alone with her husband or with other women. If she prays with him alone and the space allows, and she stands beside him, this is disliked but their prayer is still valid; it is recommended in their future prayers that she stands behind him, not beside him, to avoid the disagreement among scholars.
The position of a male or boy follower
The scholars have agreed on the Sunnah for a male or boy follower to stand on the right of the Imam if an Imam and a follower pray alone together; based on what was narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, he said: "I stayed overnight at my aunt’s house, ‘and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, got up to pray at night, so I stood up to pray with him, and I stood on his left, so he took my head and placed me on his right’—reported by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim."
And from Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with both of them, he said: "I came to stand on the left of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but he took my hand and turned me around until he placed me on his right," reported by Imam Muslim.
