Placing screens between women and men in the mosque
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Fatwa number ( 18065 )
Q: We have a mosque in the neighborhood where we live. It is a congregational mosque where the Friday prayer and the five daily prayers are held. Some women attend the Friday prayer with us, as well as the tarawih prayer in Ramadan. We have prepared a special place for them inside the mosque, in a section of it, with a screen made of wood and masonite, to prevent free mixing of men and women and to ward off harms. The mosque has loudspeakers, so they can hear the imam's movements clearly. The problem is: The mosque's preacher said: It is not permissible to make a screen for the women inside the mosque, and they must be uncovered so they can look at the imam, or this screen must be removed. Therefore, we request your guidance.
A : There is no blame on placing a screen between men and women in the mosque; especially since the need that public benefit requires calls for it. It is not a condition for this that they see the imam or the followers, as long as they are inside the mosque and hear the imam's voice. However, it should be that there are openings in the screen through which they can see the followers, so that if the sound is cut off, they can follow them by sight. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We have a mosque in the neighborhood where we live. It is a congregational mosque where the Friday prayer and the five daily prayers are held. Some women attend the Friday prayer with us, as well as the tarawih prayer in Ramadan. We have prepared a special place for them inside the mosque, in a section of it, with a screen made of wood and masonite, to prevent free mixing of men and women and to ward off harms. The mosque has loudspeakers, so they can hear the imam's movements clearly. The problem is: The mosque's preacher said: It is not permissible to make a screen for the women inside the mosque, and they must be uncovered so they can look at the imam, or this screen must be removed. Therefore, we request your guidance.
A : There is no blame on placing a screen between men and women in the mosque; especially since the need that public benefit requires calls for it. It is not a condition for this that they see the imam or the followers, as long as they are inside the mosque and hear the imam's voice. However, it should be that there are openings in the screen through which they can see the followers, so that if the sound is cut off, they can follow them by sight. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.