Can a Male Lead a Group of Non-Mahram Woman in Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: This scenario plays out a lot in the MSA’s at a lot college campuses, and people are confused about what to do. Can a male lead a group of women (non-Mahram) in prayer?

Answer: assalamu `alaykum

Legally speaking, there is nothing wrong with a man leading women in prayer, even if they are not considered unmarriageable kin (mahram).

However, one needs to maintain proper decorum and observe the limits assigned by our legal tradition when dealing with members of the opposite sex in such settings.

Wassalam
Salman

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani