What is the ruling on a female teacher working in a girls' high school that is managed by a man and has male teachers, where female teachers are not allowed to cover their faces while at work, knowing that she does not mix with these male teachers? And what is the ruling on the salary she receives if her work is impermissible?

All praise is due to Allah.

First, one must remember that there is nothing in the Quran or the Sunnah that obliges a person to pray 100 rak'ahs, or to combine a specific number of rak'ahs with a specific number of sajdas, or to pray specific chapters for a specific number of times. All of this is an innovation (bid'ah).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not from it, will have it rejected." (Bukhari, 2697; Muslim, 1718).

He also said: "Indeed, the best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him). And the worst of affairs are their innovations, and every innovation is a misguidance." (Muslim, 867).

This prayer is well-known as "Salat al-Ragha'ib" (The Prayer of Desires/Bounties). It is an innovation that appeared after the first three virtuous centuries. The scholars have issued fatwas regarding its innovation and the prohibition of performing it.

Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in "Al-Majmu'" (3/548), under the chapter of voluntary prayers: "The prayer known as Salat al-Ragha'ib, which is twelve rak'ahs between Maghrib and Isha on the first Friday night of Rajab, and Salat al-Nisf min Sha'ban (the prayer of mid-Sha'ban), which is one hundred rak'ahs, these two prayers are reprehensible innovations. They are abhorrent innovations. Neither of them should be performed, and the hadiths narrated concerning them are false (batil)."

He was also asked about Salat al-Ragha'ib, and he replied: "It is an abhorrent innovation, misguided, and reprehensible, containing many abominations. One should turn away from it and not perform it. Its fabricators, may Allah disgrace them, have invented it." Quoted by Ibn Abidin in "Al-Hashiyah" (2/26).

Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in "Majmu' al-Fatawa" (23/134): "As for the prayer of Salat al-Ragha'ib, it has no basis. Rather, it is an innovation, and it is not recommended to perform it, neither individually nor in congregation."

And in "Al-Mawsu'ah al-Fiqhiyyah" (22/272): "Salat al-Ragha'ib: It is twelve rak'ahs performed between Maghrib and Isha on the first Friday night of Rajab. It is performed in pairs (two by two), reciting 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad' (Surah al-Ikhlas) twelve times in each rak'ah, and combining certain verses and prayers. The first mention of it appeared after the fourth century AH. The majority of jurists rule that it is a reprehensible innovation (bid'ah makruhah), because there is no evidence for it from the Sharia, and the narrations transmitted regarding its virtue are fabricated (mawdu')."

The Permanent Committee was asked about Salat al-Ragha'ib, and they replied: "Salat al-Ragha'ib is an innovation, and it is not permissible to perform it."

The details of the question describe a prayer that is worse and more innovated than Salat al-Ragha'ib. It is a fabricated, innovative prayer. It is not permissible to act upon it, nor to spread it, nor to call to it. Rather, it must be warned against.

The Muslim should be keen to follow the Sunnah and avoid innovations, for in following the Sunnah there is sufficiency and in innovations there is misguidance.

And Allah knows best.