What is the ruling on praying Dhuhr alone instead of praying it in congregation with a colleague who delays the prayer and engages in backbiting and calumny on the way to it, knowing that abandoning the congregation causes a twinge of conscience?

Scholars differ on the ruling regarding women praying in congregation with one of them leading. The Shafi'is and Hanbalis consider it recommended, citing the actions of Aisha and Umm Salama, and the hadith of Umm Waraqa bint Nawfal. The Hanafis, however, deem their congregation without men as prohibitively disliked (makruh tahrimi), though the prayer would be valid if performed, because a woman's imamate requires her to stand in the middle of the row, which contradicts the Sunnah. The Malikis, on the other hand, consider a woman's imamate null and void absolutely.

The preponderant opinion is that it is recommended for women to pray together. It is advisable to agree with female colleagues to perform the prayer in congregation while avoiding backbiting and unlawful acts. If this is not possible, then it is obligatory to distance oneself to avoid sin.