The ruling on women following the imam when there is a barrier

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, if the women’s prayer area is separated from the mosque by a row of restrooms, is it permissible for them to pray with the men and follow the imam, or not?

Answer:
It is not proper to have restrooms in the middle of the mosque. They must be isolated in a wing of the mosque, on the right, left, or east side. As the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Make the washing places at their doors.” They are not to be left in the middle of the mosques. As for women praying with the imam’s prayer, if there is a barrier between them, such as a wall like the wall of these light fixtures, and they pray in the annex there, there is no harm. There is no harm if the women pray in the annex. But if there is a separation between them, whether houses or markets, then following the imam is not valid. Yes. Because, Shaykh, the restrooms are between the women’s area and the mosque. Why didn’t you put them outside? The prayer area was full of men. The women’s prayer area is where the restrooms are, and the restrooms are behind this first section. Many people at mosque buildings do not do this properly; some place the restrooms between the men’s and women’s prayer areas, and some place the women above the men, and that is not proper. Yes.