Can a British Muslim Female expat share a villa with other males?

Well, dont be discourage right away.

Surely your employer will do their best to find you a better accommodation.

And once you will meet your colleagues, they will help you in solving some problems that may arise during your stay here.

Have a nice trip and good luck.

I nearly forgot to mention the social climate.

A bit of the old, the stereotypical, a LOT of the newer.

In simpler terms, the US in the late 1950's to mid 1960's merged with Arabic traditions and Islamic beliefs.

It is interesting, to say the least. And has a real chance at preserving the best of both, if all play the cards right!

I even daily see rides that I rode on as a child in the '60s in use here, where they are nowhere to be found in the US in similar play areas above some stores and hypermarkets!

Be warned, this is the place that manufactures the dust for the entire earth. Figure dust that looks like yellow/brown colored (or is it coloured?) portland cement. And has a similar consistency when wet then permitted to dry undisturbed...

Our best friends here are a married couple that are mutually adopted (his familiy kind of adopted us and us his familiy), he is Saudi and we get along famously.

I guess the watchword is tolerance. For the Qatari as well as the rest of us. They want to be good hosts, but it *IS* their "house" we're guests in. I've NEVER had harsh words with a Qatari in three years. And we get along VERY well with the older Qatari folk we've met.

Of course, they realize immediately that we're not "kids" and that we've been married nearly 27 years and they LOVE the little joking bickering we do with one another. :)

OK, I'll toss my hat into the ring. It'll probably get stepped on, but I don't wear hats much anyway.

YCHikal, no matter your personal opinion was quoting fatwah (or however it is properly spelled). Read it in a number of places, to include your own holy texts.

Qatarkid is also correct.

That is far as Islam is concerned. But I only have three years experience here and AM an infidel or something.

THAT said, in mostly western compounds or single dwellings where you are not out howling at the moon or something, things are different as far as enforcement is concerned.

SO, it all comes down to how comfortable are you with living up to your faith? Because at the end of it all, it comes down to it being a matter of being between you and the creator.

Oh, grow a bit thicker skin around here. The nice folks around here can get through rhino skin in a millisecond. I'd suggest a skin about the thickness of the earth's crust! And those are the helpful ones!

All that said, pity you are looking in west bay area. My wife and I would LOVE to kick the jerk out who lives downstairs and get someone decent in here! We just can't afford the full QR18K rent on what I get paid. (Long story there, sad in parts, funny in parts, the rest qualifies for an acceptable substitute for general anesthesia...)

It's not an offence provided there is a written agreement between the tenant and the chief occupant. But still, I'd suggest you either opt to rent a room from a flat already leased by a female or lease-out a 2 roomed flat on your own and rent out to a female.

Alia the answer to question is no. Infact no women whom is not married should not share accomodation with other males whom are no Mehram irrespect of your religious belief (men you cannot marry, father Brother, Uncle etc)

Can I just say that this (QL website) is meant to be a helpful tool to people living in Qatar - and when someone is new/coming here, its just a bit insensitive to pre-judge them and make them feel rubbish when they're already clearly needing support or advice. Live and let live guys.

And as for all the religious/god squad chit-chat, you'll have to get used to it... unfortunately people seem to think if you're from the West, you're of dubious character/ lacking in islamic knowledge/ blah blah... lovely eh? Use my tactics - ignore ignore ignore!

Hello Sister,

My wife and myself are a young couple looking for friends who are also new here. If you want to make friends early, let me know ([email protected]). Were 24 and 22 and from Canada. Arrived here in January 2008.

Salams.

OMG. I only asked a simple question this has become into a religious debate. I think Supreme being, kee, leatherface and aunty polly with a few others have given me sound un bias advice.

In regards to so called "sister Nice to Nice" your so called sister " Chityal" is not a sister at all its a brother disguising as a sister!

What do you say about that?

Secondly, if he was such a great so called "musilma" being the female term. He would not be impersonating a woman under false pretence. Thirdly, he would not be putting and innsinuating false things where the hell is this guy from? USE YOUR BRAIN. If he knew Islam which he obviously doesnt he would not Lie. I personally think hes a transvestive in the making or is a very confused individual and doesnt know which way to swing.

Now all done and said as you can gage. I am offended by some people comments ie "Chityal" who doesnt have a clue whether he is a he or a she or in fact a shemale.

All I wanted was a kind response in fact some of you have twisted it into a religious debate for what? have you nothing better to do and say? which has nothing to do with my question.

Let me make it quite clear Im a decent person I dont want people to tell me what to do. I think I have enough of an understanding to know what is right and what is wrong.

I appreciate that some of you have been very supportive in giving good advice but i do not take kindly for people who hate other innocent races. Irrespective of what your religion is. So please if you dont have anything good to say please keep it to yourself.

I wouldnt be surprised if this blog gets removed.

I wished Id never posted this up in the first place.

Also consider studios, and villas where it's already partioned and you can have a studio style part where the entrance for your room will be seperate and you can have the services (bathroom, kitchenette) attached to your room.

I beleive this would be the best of options, in case you are not willing to go for a one bedroom appartment

Best of Luck!

Easy people. I know you all mean well. But she asked a specific question. If she was looking for a fatwa she would've asked for one or checked islam online.

Sister Alia,

I hope you got the right answer from sister

YCHikal . Being a muslim woman it is not allowed to be with a man who is not related to you. Islamic culture is totally different than western, so it may hard to your understanding but to be a good muslim, you have to live with it. I wish you a happy arrival here in doha and sister YCHikal may able to help you to find out a suitable and proper housing for you....

Most probably it's not allowed by law to do so. Some people do share accommodation or live together as a GF and BF, but mostly they keep a low profile and live in compounds inhabited by western expatriates.

Well alia khatoon it is highly appreciated you are looking for a appropriate answer about your question.

Thanks to YCHikal she ellobrated well !!!

Speed what you are saying please guide muslim womens as per teaching of islam if you know ?? otherwise your thoughts and perception not permissable

Alia you better not to have any sharing accomodation with other religion womens neither mens.

Satan he will always looking a path to enter......

Hi there.

I'm a muslim UK ex pat female, been in Doha about seven months... My opinion from what people I know have said/experienced is that it wouldn't be looked upon well, and may cause you some grief if anyone suspects anything untoward (which of course would not be the case) but they will read into this (as people do...) - as the women here are quite segregated from men in general terms, so even though you/I would not bat an eyelid at this knowing its perfectly innocent - the culture here is a bit different. I'd advise you try to find a villa share with other women, though I'm not sure how easy that will be. Best of luck.

Alsalam alikoum sister. I am an American Muslima expat living here and I have just read about your dilemma and would like to address it properly. First of all I would like to say that Allah promises the believers that if they put their trust in him that He will provide a way out for them when there seems to be no way and he will send resources to them from places where you cannot imagine that there will be any help. Secondly, I would like to say that if you set your intention to do the right thing no matter what and make lots of praying about this issue, that you will find your path becoming easy for you insha Allah. The proper explaination to this question is that No you may not share a villa with other men even though you indicated that you would simply have your own room. This is because of your reputation and the reputation of others in the building. A woman may not even sleep in a Masjid to make Atakaf alone without a Mahram in the vicinity or many other sisters with her(a series of night prayers where one dedicates themselves entirely to worship for a period of time by isolating themselves in the Masjid) so imagine how much greater the sin to do this simply to find cheaper housing. I would be happy to help you in your quest for housing as I understand the high cost of living here. Although I am sure that you have the best and purest of intentions, please do not share your housing with any females of a different religion or with men being in the same vicinity. This would be improper and unecessary as well. You may PM me and I will contact you ASAP to help you out to the best of my ability as I have many contacts in the Real Estate business. Alsalam alikoum.

Dear alia,

I liked your question and I enjoyed your answer to those who tried to take a wrong interpretation of your perfectly legitimate question.

As to your question, I don't think it will be possible or allowed by most house owners here.

AP

Ideally my first preference is to share with british expat women. But If i cant find a villa with them close to my work then the next option is to go for a shared villa with men and women thats is near my work place.

Its not Ideal but then one has to compromise. Its cheaper to share a villa than get a place on my own. We all know its not cheap in doha. Hence the reason for my dilema and asking the question.

However, if there are any western expat females who are looking to share a villa in west bay please get in touch.

thanks

so my advice is stick with the females.

Yep.... As long as the guys sharing the villa are either your brothers, father and uncles, or sons you are OK. If not and you persist, I'm sure you will be provided with temporary accomodation at a local government facility, charged, yet free of charge..... and when you have almost acclimatised you will be given a one way ticket to your local british airport. In addition, for your own good you will be offered all sorts of local acclimatisation programmes during your stay.... so my advice is stick with the females.

Being a Muslim, if you don't have issue living with a man they no worries you can stay as long as you don't get into wrong relationship.

You will have no issue sharing a room with a strange man in Doha.