We have a local masjid which was a house converted for prayer and has been so now for the past 20 odd years. From the very first day there has always been a room allocated as living quarters...

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

There are a few possible scenarios when the house was bought for the purpose of prayer:

The property was not declared as a Masjid, even though it has been used for prayers

The property was declared as a Masjid

The Imām's quarters were excluded from the Masjid

The Imām's quarters were included in the Masjid

If the property was not declared as a Masjid, or if it was declared as such but the living quarters were excluded, then it would be permissible for the Imām to stay there with his family. However, if the property, along with the living quarters, was declared as a Masjid, then it would not be permissible [i].

In the scenarios where it is permissible for the Imām to stay in the living quarters with his family, it would still be necessary to have a separate exit for these quarters such that the female members of his family do not mix with the male congregants of the Masjid [ii].

[i]

[ii]

And Allah knows best

Wassalamu Alaikum

Ml. Abrar Mirza,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa