The Etiquette of a Woman Leaving for the Mosque and the Prohibition of Seclusion

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, it is observed that some women go out to pray the tarawih, and in this going out there are some violations. For example, she comes with the driver and without a mahram, or she is in a state of tabarruj (displaying her adornment) or the like. What is your guidance for such women?

Answer:
We have referred in a previous answer to the fact that a woman’s going out to the mosque is conditional upon the prescribed etiquettes, due to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “Let them go out without adornment,” meaning in ordinary clothes, without perfume, without fragrance, and without adornment. Because she went out for worship seeking reward, if she errs in etiquette and contradicts what is prescribed, where will her reward come from?
It is only obtained through sin and error. So the Muslim woman should be aware of this and know that she went out in worship and that she is seeking reward, so she should not spoil it with violations of the Shari’ah and exposure to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). She tempts herself and tempts others, and she occupies people from worshipping their Lord. So she is responsible for herself and responsible for her actions, because some women may go out to boast about their adornment, so they beautify themselves and adorn themselves in order to be better than so-and-so or so-and-so, or she goes out to show the women her clothes and garments. This is not going out for worship, nor going out to seek reward and recompense, but rather she went out to boast, she went out to display herself and tempt others. So the woman should fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for her going with the driver alone, this is seclusion, forbidden seclusion. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whether the seclusion is in a car, in a house, in the desert, or in any place, because the seclusion of a man with a woman who is not lawful for him leads to falling into what is forbidden and lewdness, and Satan becomes active and present, beautifying it for them. So it is not permissible for a woman to go out with the driver alone, not to the mosque, not for teaching, not for studying, and not to the markets. The seclusion must be removed. So others, men or women, ride with her and the driver until the seclusion is removed thereby. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah bless you,