I work in a public institution and my office is in a place where there are two rooms, one is my office and the other is the director’s office. The director’s office has a door into my office, is this considered being in seclusion with a marriageable man while each one is in his own office? Does the presence of another person negate being in seclusion with him?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The forbidden seclusion is for a man to be with a woman in a place where there is no third person. So if there are no men or women in the place except the director, then your presence in this place is a forbidden seclusion. Moreover, it should be noted that a lonely women being in the presence of two marriageable men or more without a Mahram does not negate the fact of being in seclusion with them, as they may agree to commit fornication or adultery with her. However, if it is unlikely for them to agree to this, then it is not being in seclusion. Finally, we advice you, sister, to stay away from such places even if you are not found in seclusion with men, unless you are obliged to work in this institution.

Allaah Knows best.