Is it permissible for a man to lead salah for ghair mahram women in the same room with others ?

Question:

Since taraweeh is being read at home this year due to isolation I want to ask: Is it permissible for a man to lead salah for ghair mahram women in the same room with others also present, i.e. Imām leads his father, brother, mom, and sister in law as muqtadis. Is this permissible or does pardah/barrier have to be in place for sister in law to read behind brother in law in such a scenario? Answer: ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

If a man leads a non-mahram in prayer whilst other family members are present (e.g. those you have mentioned in your query) without a barrier, it will be permissible since the males and females cannot see one another during the prayer. If no barrier was arranged, the following precautionary measures should be taken into consideration: ensure that no intermingling takes place between non-mahrams before and after the prayer, if one knows there will be non-mahrams present they should lower their gazes before entering such a room, and the females should maintain a reasonable distance during prayer, i.e. not stand too close to the males. Nevertheless, making arrangements for a barrier is more cautious and closer to taqwa (piety). (Al-Ikhtiyar li Taleel Al-Mukhtar: v. 1, p. 58 [Matba’ah Al-Halabi Al-Qahira])

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham