Are men and women screened in mosques? When was parda required in Rasoolullah’s time?

Respected Sister,

Allah Ta’ala has mentioned in the Holy Quraan :

‘…And when ye ask (Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam’s) wives) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs…’ (Surah Al-Ahzaab, part of verse 53)

It comes in a hadeeth that Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radhiallahu ‘anhu) said:

As regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, ‘Oh Allah’s Apostle! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves from the men because good and bad ones talk to them.’ So the verse of the veiling of the women was revealed. (Bukhari)

In another hadeeth, Sayyidatina ‘Aaisha (radhiallahu ‘anha) reported:

The wives of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) used to go out in the cover of night when they went to open fields (in the outskirts of Madinah) for easing themselves. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radhiallahu ‘anhu) used to say: Allah’s Messenger, ask your ladies to observe veil, but Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not do that. So there went out Sauda, daughter of Zama, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), during one of the nights when it was dark. She was a tall statued lady. ‘Umar (radhiallahu ‘anhu) called her saying: Sauda, we recognized you. (He did this with the hope that the verses pertaining to veil would be revealed.) Sayyidatina ‘Aaisha (radhiallahu ‘anha) said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, then revealed the verses pertaining to veil. (Muslim)

From the mentioned dalail (pl. of dalil), we can see that there was screening between men and women during the time of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and it was due to the fikr of Sayyidina ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radhiallahu ‘anhu) that the verses of purdah were revealed.

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam.

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Binti Zahari