She has a number of questions about the ruling on a woman praying in al-Masjid al-Haraam and nearby dwellings
Question

                What is the ruling on a woman praying in al-Masjid al-Haraam or al-Masjid an-Nabawi?

Is it better for her to pray in the hotel or in the streets when she is visiting there?

What is the ruling on a woman praying in the streets and malls of Makkah near the Haram?

I saw some people praying there, and some of them pray in the lobbies of the hotels without facing the qiblah properly, and they think that they are offering the prayer in congregation with the imam in the Haram. What is the ruling on that?

What is the ruling on women praying in the first rows? What is the ruling on them praying near men, side-by-side?
Praise be to Allah.
    
    Firstly: 

    
    For a woman to pray in her house, or in the hotel, on her own or with other 
    women who are there, is better and is preferable to her praying in al-Masjid 
    al-Haraam or al-Masjid an-Nabawi, even though her praying in the mosque is 
    permissible, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) 
    said: “Do not prevent your womenfolk from going to the mosques, although 
    their houses are better for them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 480; classed as 
    saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in Saheeh Sunan 
    Abi Dawood. 

    
    Imam Ahmad (25842) narrated that Umm Humayd, the wife of Abu Humayd as-Saa‘idi 
    (may Allah be pleased with her) said: O Messenger of Allah, I love to pray 
    with you. "O Messenger of Allah, I love to pray with you." He said: "I know 
    that you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you 
    than praying in your courtyard, and praying in your courtyard is better for 
    you than praying in the mosque of your people, and praying in the mosque of 
    your people is better for you than praying in my mosque." 

    
    Classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in 
    Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb 

    
    For more information, please see the answers to questions no.
    95577 and 8868

    
    Secondly: 

    
    The ruling on the praying in the open areas and streets surrounding al-Masjid 
    al-Haraam, and praying in the hotels overlooking al-Masjid al-Haraam, is 
    based on the question of the worshipper following the imam from outside the 
    mosque, which is a matter concerning which there is a scholarly difference 
    of opinion. Some of the scholars regarded that as permissible, on condition 
    that the worshipper can see the imam or those who are praying behind him. 
    Others said that it is permissible to follow the imam on condition that the 
    rows are continuous; if the rows are not continuous, then following the imam 
    is not valid, even if it is possible to see the imam or those who are 
    praying behind him. 

    
    An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: In order for following the 
    imam to be valid, it is essential that he be able to know the movements of 
    the imam, regardless of whether they both pray inside the mosque or 
    elsewhere, or one of them is inside and the other is outside; and there is 
    consensus on this point. Our companions said: he may be able to know that 
    (the movements of the imam) by hearing the imam or those who are praying 
    behind him, or seeing his actions or the actions of those who are praying 
    behind him. They narrated that there was consensus on the permissibility of 
    relying on any of these factors.

    
    End quote from al-Majmoo‘, 4/202 

    
    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The correct view 
    concerning this matter is that in the case of those who are outside the 
    mosque following the imam, it is essential that the rows be continuous; if 
    they are not continuous then the prayer is not valid. 

    
    For example, around the Haram there are high-rise buildings in which there 
    are apartments in which people pray whilst they can see the imam or 
    worshippers praying behind him, either for the duration of the entire prayer 
    or for part of it. According to the view of this author, their prayer is 
    valid. We say to them: When you hear the iqaamah, then you can stay where 
    you are and pray with the imam, and you do not need to come to al-Masjid al-Haraam. 

    
    According to the second opinion, their prayer is not valid, because the rows 
    are not continuous. This view is the one which is correct.

    
    End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 4/298 

    
    See also the answer to question no. 45611 

    
    Thirdly: 

    
    If what is meant by women praying in the first rows is that they pray in 
    front of the men in the same place, then this is contrary to the Sunnah, 
    because the Sunnah is for the women to pray behind the men. But if that 
    happens, the prayer is still valid. 

    
    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It may be noted 
    that some men in al-Masjid al-Haraam form rows behind the women’s rows 
    during the obligatory prayer; will their prayer be accepted? Do you have any 
    advice to offer them? 

    
    He replied: If men pray behind women, some scholars say that there is 
    nothing wrong with it, but this is contrary to the Sunnah, because the 
    Sunnah is that the women should be behind the men. But, as we see in al-Masjid 
    al-Haraam, the place is very crowded, so some women may come and form a row, 
    then some men may come after them and form a row behind them. But 
    worshippers should take care to avoid that as much as possible, because that 
    may result in temptation to the men. So men should avoid praying behind 
    women. Although this is permissible according to what the fuqaha’ have 
    determined, we say that people should avoid this as much as possible, and 
    women should also avoid praying in places close to men.

    
    End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 13/19 

    
    But if what is meant by women praying in the first rows is that they are 
    praying with other women, separate from men, this has been discussed 
    previously in the answer to question no. 118155 

    
    With regard to women praying near men without a barrier, this is a matter 
    concerning which the scholars differed. The majority are of the view that 
    the prayer is valid, apart from the Hanafis who discussed the matter in more 
    detail. 

    
    That has been discussed previously in the answer to question no.
    79122. 

    
    And Allah knows best.