Men and women praying in the same room in their workplace

28-7-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalam Alaekum. Our office has only 1 designated prayer room for Muslims. I would like to know, if this room can be shared with our Muslim brothers. Thank you very much.
Answer:

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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for men and women to be present in the same room for prayer if the room is spacious enough for all of them provided the presence of the two sexes does not lead to forbidden mixing. In addition to this, women should stay far behind the rows of men as we clarified in Fatwa 81763.

Therefore, it is permissible for you to pray with men in that place if the above conditions are met and if the women abide by the Hijab. At the time of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) women used to pray with men in the mosque according to these conditions.

On the other hand, if the room is not spacious enough for the two sexes in the manner which we clarified, then it is not permissible for the two sexes to pray together. In this case, they are obligated to pray in two separate groups if there is no other solution.

Allaah Knows best.

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