Men and women praying together and making Tawaf during Hajj

18/10/2009| IslamWeb

Question: 1) Are men and women allowed to pray together during Hajj season? I thought that Men and Women are allowed to perform Tawaf around the Kaba together?

2) Is it true that men cannot pray behind a woman.

Fatwa: All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The rows of men should not mix with those of women during prayer nor should there be women or men praying in the same row. In fact, the normal and correct situation is that men should be in the first rows and women behind them. It is narrated in a sound Hadith that the Prophet said: "The best rows for men are the first ones and the worst rows for them are the last ones. The best rows for women are the last rows and the worst rows for them are the first ones". But if there is no choice and it is unavoidable that men get mixed with women in the same rows like during Hajj for instance this is excused as it is beyond the person's will power and Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.}[Quran 2:286]

Allah also says (what means): {So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey;}[Quran 64:16].

The Prophet said: "Allah has forgiven to the members of my Ummah, the mistakes, what they forget to do and what they were compelled to do". [Ibn Majha].

But remember that the person should take all his precautions to avoid getting mixed with people of the opposite sex.

Allah Knows best.