The ruling on men praying behind women or beside them
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
This message is from a listener in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah: Muhammad 'Umaran. He says: What is the ruling on men praying behind women or beside them in the other direction?
Answer: It is prescribed that men be in front of women, and that women be behind men in the mosques and wherever they pray, the women should be behind the men. This is what is prescribed, and this is what is obligatory. However, if there is a dire necessity, such as during the days of Hajj, the seasons of Hajj in al-Masjid al-Nabawi and al-Masjid al-Haram, the women may end up to the right of the praying men, or to their left, or in front of them. This does not harm the men's prayer; the men's prayer is valid. Even if the women are in front of them, or to their right, or to their left, it does not harm them. As for the Sunnah, what is prescribed, and what is obligatory, it is that they be behind the praying men. This is the Sunnah. Yes.
Answer: It is prescribed that men be in front of women, and that women be behind men in the mosques and wherever they pray, the women should be behind the men. This is what is prescribed, and this is what is obligatory. However, if there is a dire necessity, such as during the days of Hajj, the seasons of Hajj in al-Masjid al-Nabawi and al-Masjid al-Haram, the women may end up to the right of the praying men, or to their left, or in front of them. This does not harm the men's prayer; the men's prayer is valid. Even if the women are in front of them, or to their right, or to their left, it does not harm them. As for the Sunnah, what is prescribed, and what is obligatory, it is that they be behind the praying men. This is the Sunnah. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.