The ruling on a woman riding alone with a driver within the city

The questioner:
He pointed to you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: What is the ruling on a woman going with a driver alone, without a mahram (a relative one may not marry), within the city?

The Shaykh:
This is haram (forbidden) and not permissible, because this is khalwah (seclusion with a non-mahram). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: No man is to be alone with a woman except with , or . The point is that it is not permissible for a woman to ride with a driver who is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for her, because this is forbidden seclusion. It is very clear.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, he says: What is the ruling if impurity hits the clothes and then goes away, meaning its effect is removed from the clothes? Does it… some people…

The Shaykh:
Some people say this is not seclusion because there are windows and people can see them. Well, if people see them, they also hear the conversation going on between them. Also, people prevent the driver if he intends to do her harm and run away with her; they cannot stop him. So her seclusion with him in the car is more severe than her seclusion with him outside the car, because the car is in his hand; he moves it. If he is bad and corrupt, he is able to take her and run away, and people cannot catch it. It is not enough that he is seen from behind his prayer mat; that is not enough. Yes. Yes.