I have prayed both in a seprate room and behind the brothers. I fell comfortable  either way.

I guess I have never thought about being beside the brothers or behind. I have always been behind. Wich makes sense do to wearing skirts and not wanting a brother behind me. I do know that I wouldn't like praying next to a brother who is not a family member.

Assalamu Alaikum:

I have had the opportunity to pray in many Mosques and the set-up is different. I myself feel that I am most comfortable in the back. It is not whether you are behind, beside, etc the men, it is the intention for you being there. My intention is to pray and praise my Lord and if a brother is beside me, it does not matter because I am not there to socialize.

Being in the back of brothers, as is at our Mosque,( We are seperated by glass but we can see and hear the Imam when talks are going on, Mashallah) gives the women more privacy. They can nurse their babies, put on/pull off/adjust their Hijabs in private, etc.

During the time of the Prophet(PBUH) women prayed in the same area as the men without barriers, but the Prophet(PBUH) and the men always waited until the ladies left before they disbursed(Hadith). Of coure during that time the people were more fearful of Allah, more respectful of the women and stronger in their practice of Islam.

My opinion is that for the sake of Deen, personal accountability, and modesty, the men and women should remain seperate. This is not being sexist, just the want to remain modest in all areas, including prayer! And ...to be greatly aware that shaitan is ever present and busy with "innocent" mischief.

Everyone has a choice as to where they pray and who they pray with. Sometimes intersex praying does come into play at some mosques. You just have to decide if the set-up is right for you, Inshallah.

Salaam to All

I am not that learned in this area at all, but i think it was in the back rows that the women used to pray together with the men durig the time of the Prophet [saw]; not that they were inferior, but so that the mens glance would not fall on them...

Now there is a hadith that basically says times will continue to get worse untill the Caliphate is established again near the end times?, thus we can be sure [and we can observe this too] that the fitnah [disorder, including the 'sexual disorder'] level has been steadily rising since then and it is at it worst now, and going to get even worse...

Thus my dear fellow br. and sisters; is it wise to have a mixed congregation in such times?; I personally think not, but sister Softheart4all has a verry good point and I think for this reason, sisters should indeed organise learning circles [and the Mosques committee should be urged to do the same; I think the general mosques that have a sisters praying area too, do have such facilities for the sisters infact] and not fall behind in the spiritual nourishment whcih is the 'heart' of islam

Also Imams and Mosque lecturers could be advised to bring up relevent womens issues too in their speeches so such issues are not 'swept under the carpet' 

Salaam

Amilius, a contributor hereto, concerned with the Islamic subject of men and women praying together, had written, on Aug 05, 2009, 'The only reason why we pray separately now is because men are weak as far as lust is concerned.  And we can not focus on Allah while the opposite sex is near us prostrating herself in prayer.'  If he knows whereof he writes, should I be drawn to the conclusion that the Muslim male spirit is much weaker than the Muslim male flesh and that the Muslim female spirit is much stronger?   If circumstance governs the imperturbable spirit, yet confined to perturbable flesh, then the spirit is not what it seems to be, or maybe it isn't at all.   

Dear Friends:  Though I am not a Muslim (I am Jewish), I have many Muslim friends. We frequently get together and discuss all sorts of issues.  This very issue came up not too long ago, as Orthodox Jews are grappling with the same problem of whether or not men and women should pray together.

Now, to be honest, I am not that religious at all. And I never could understand why this is even an issue. I can't really understand why so many men as well as  women seem to think that men can't control themselves in the presence of women. That to me is total nonsense. Does anyone here really believe that men are never in control of their sexual feelings?  Human beings have the gift of reason, after all. 

In our society, it is considered a crtiminal act if a man sexually abuses a woman. All humans have sexual feelings--women, no less than men. To "lose control" of ones emotions is not normal. It's a pathology--a sickness.

I rather think that people use this as a means of keeping women in an inferior place in society. Moreover, it should be noted that the concept of separating men and women harkens back to pre-history--specifically in the Mideastern countries.  Jews and Muslims are after all both Semitic peoples, with intense cultural similarities having come from the same part of the world. The orthodox, the traditionalists of both faiths have to this day more similarities than differences culturally.  In traditional Judaism, women are definitely considered inferior. Not so much in modern Judaism--just like not so much in modern Islam. Otherwise this discussion could not take place.

The point is please don't put down men as being weak willed.  If that were true, how could any man function in the world?  It's not fair to men to say that they cannot control themselves.

May I respectfully ask a question: If men are the weak ones, why aren't they compelled to pray in the backof the mosque, where they would not cause any harm?  Why are women in the back..to me, it'snot fair to compel inequality. 

Perhaps I am wrong. I have anopenmind, andreally look forward to my Muslim brothers and sisters answers here. Thanks so much.