Reference: Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad as-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen v2 p842
Question: Is it permissible for a muslim woman to attend gatherings of knowledge (study circles) and fiqh lessons in the masaajid?
Response: Yes, it is permissible for a woman to attend gatherings of knowledge whether it be fiqh [lessons] or fiqh with ‘aqeedah and tawheed – with the condition that she is not perfumed and nor all dressed up, and that she is [sitting] far away from the men and not free-mixing with them, because the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«The best of the rows for the women are the last ones, and the worst of them are the first ones»
…and this is because the first rows are closest to the men than the last rows, so therefore the last rows become better than the first ones [since they are furthest away from the men].
