FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE- 294: HUKUM MENJADI IMAM KEPADA PASANGAN BUKAN MAHRAM SECARA BERDUAAN
Is it permissible for a man to lead prayer for a non-mahram woman when only the two of them are present?
Short answer
Cohabiting and being alone with a non-mahram woman is forbidden, and in the Shafi'i school leading a lone non-mahram woman in prayer while secluded with her is also prohibited for both of them.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Cohabiting and being alone with a non-mahram woman is forbidden, and in the Shafi'i school leading a lone non-mahram woman in prayer while secluded with her is also prohibited for both of them. The prohibition arises from the seclusion (khalwat), not from the prayer itself, so the congregational prayer remains valid as long as its pillars and conditions are fulfilled. If other people are present so that there is no seclusion, the act is not prohibited on that ground, and leading one's wife or a mahram is allowed without any dislike. The fatwa advises the couple to marry quickly to make their relationship lawful.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
وإن أم بأجنبية وخلا بها حرم ذلك عليه وعليها
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE- 294: HUKUM MENJADI IMAM KEPADA PASANGAN BUKAN MAHRAM SECARA BERDUAAN”, 4 March 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/3167-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-294-hukum-menjadi-imam-kepada-pasangan-bukan-mahram-secara-berduaan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/leading-prayer-non-mahram-woman-alone-ruling/