Is a woman's prayer valid in a separate room in the mosque, and is it permissible for her to follow the imam by listening to his voice if she is alone?

Scholars differ on the issue of a congregant's prayer if there is a barrier between them and the imam that obstructs vision. Some consider the prayer invalid due to the lack of vision and continuity of rows, contenting themselves with only hearing the sound. Others validate the prayer. And there are those who differentiate between a room inside or outside the mosque.

The Malikis hold the view that it is permissible to follow the imam if the congregant hears him, even if there is a barrier or if the imam is not seen. It has been reported that the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray in their homes following the prayer of the people of the mosque.

The Shafi'is hold that the presence of a barrier that prevents passage and viewing invalidates the prayer if it is outside the mosque. If the barrier prevents passage but not viewing, there are two opinions. If there is a river between them, the soundest opinion is that it is permissible.

The Shafi'is and Hanbalis stipulate for the validity of following the imam that the congregant must know the imam's movements. This knowledge is obtained by hearing the imam, or those behind him, or by observing his actions, or the actions of those behind him.

For the Hanbalis, there are two narrations from Imam Ahmad. One states that it is not permissible to follow the imam if there is a barrier that obstructs vision. The other states that it is permissible to follow because observation is intended for knowing the imam's state, and this knowledge is attained by hearing the takbir (call to prayer).

In summary, it is permissible for a congregant to follow the imam if they are both inside the mosque, absolutely, whether they see the imam or not, or whether there is a barrier between them or not, as long as they hear the takbir. However, if the congregant is outside the mosque, hearing the takbir and seeing the imam or those behind him is stipulated, and the continuity of rows is not stipulated according to the soundest opinions of the schools of thought. Therefore, if the room designated for women's prayer is inside the mosque, their following the imam is valid if they hear the takbir. But if it is outside the mosque and vision is not possible, then following is not valid according to the Shafi'is and Hanbalis, while it is valid according to the Malikis. The more cautious approach is to avoid this.