Can I share a hotel room with a coworker on a business trip?

Opposite-gender coworkers

The Prophet ﷺ said, "No man should be alone with a woman except in the presence of a mahram" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5233). A shared hotel room, especially overnight, is exactly the kind of private setting this hadith warns about, even between people who are just friends or professional colleagues. The Quran guards the path to zina, not only the act itself:

Scholars of all four schools agree on this. It's the same principle as studying one-on-one behind closed doors. See Can I study alone with a classmate of the opposite gender?

Same-gender coworkers

Sharing with a colleague of your own gender is permitted. Keep a few manners in mind:

• Separate beds. The Prophet ﷺ told men not to lie together under one cover, and women likewise (Sahih Muslim 338). Twin rooms solve this.
• Cover your awrah. Change in the bathroom rather than in front of each other.
• Prayer: you can pray in the room. Explain it briefly so your colleague isn't surprised. See How do I pray in a hotel room?
• Alcohol: if your roommate wants minibar drinks, you can still share; just don't drink, buy or serve it.

How to ask for your own room

Many companies already give staff separate rooms. If yours doesn't, a short, calm request usually works:

• Say it's for religious reasons and offer a simple solution, such as a single room or swapping with a same-gender colleague.
• Offer to cover the extra cost if needed, or ask for a cheaper hotel nearby.
• In the UK, the Equality Act, and in the US, Title VII, require employers to consider reasonable religious accommodations.

Shared apartments and Airbnbs

Some teams book one large flat. That can be fine if everyone has a private, lockable bedroom and you avoid being alone with the opposite gender in the shared space for long periods.