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Males praying behind females because the room is small

20-11-2000

Question 9486

we are having a little problem at our college. Because of the small prayer room that is given to us by our college, muslim brothers and sisters are praying  in the same row (I'm not talking about Congregation)  Some Muslim men are praying even behind our sisters.  Is this acceptable?? 

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

You have to try to keep the women separate from the men, even if the prayer-room is small. All the people – men and women – should know that the back of the room is only for women. You could put up some kind of barrier to define the space that is for women, even if it is only a line of the floor, or a marker, or something like that, so that there will be enough room for the men who come late to stand behind their brothers who came earlier, and in front of the women who are praying. And Allaah knows best.  

Congregational Prayer
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