A woman entering upon her husband’s guests, receiving them, and participating with men in official work
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 5082 )
Q2: There are some young men who are committed to Islam, careful to adhere to it, and zealous for it, who are presented with certain doubts, particularly regarding the issue of women. For example: A - They see no objection to a woman entering upon her husband’s guests while he is present, serving them tea and other things, and sitting with them. They cite as evidence for this a hadith narrated by al-Bukhari from Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him)
He said:, and they also cite what al-Bukhari mentioned (Chapter: A woman standing over men at a wedding and serving them with her own hands). When Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this matter, he answered that it is permissible, as stated in (al-Muwatta). They also cite what al-Bukhari mentioned in the chapter: What is permissible for a man to be alone with a woman in the presence of people. B - They see no objection to a wife receiving her husband’s male guests, even in his absence. They cite as evidence for this what Muslim narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: Sahih Muslim 2173, and they also cite the visit of Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) to Umm Hani' after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). C - They see no objection to a woman participating with men in their official work, and in gatherings of knowledge and dhikr, as long as she is wearing hijab. They cite several things as evidence for this, including: the participation of the female Companions with the Muslims in jihad, the teaching by 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) of the other Companions, and the fatwas she issued.
D - What is the response to those who say: The hijab of a woman is: that she covers her entire body, showing only her face and her two hands? Their arguments are mentioned in the book (The Hijab of the Muslim Woman in the Book and the Sunnah) authored by Shaykh \ Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani (may Allah preserve him)
Volume 2: A - It is obligatory for a Muslim, when researching the ruling on an Islamic issue, to look at the texts from the Book and the Sunnah that pertain to this issue, as well as the legal evidence that follows from them. This is the most sound path and the one that leads best to hitting the truth. He should not limit his research to one side of its evidence while neglecting the other; otherwise, his view would be incomplete, and he would resemble the people of deviation and desire, who follow the ambiguous parts of the texts seeking fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and desiring to interpret them according to their desires. In such a subject, one must look at the texts of the Book and the Sunnah regarding the obligation of a woman covering her 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), the prohibition of the furtive glance, and the objective of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) in obligating the preservation of honor and lineage, prohibiting their violation and encroachment upon them, and prohibiting the means that lead to that, such as a woman being in seclusion with a man other than her husband or her mahram (a relative one may not marry), exposing her 'awrah, traveling without a mahram, suspicious mixing, and a man and a woman being in one garment, and the like of that which may lead to committing
the crime of fornication. If one looks at the totality of what has been mentioned, he must understand that what came in the hadith of Sahl regarding the wife of Abu Asid preparing food and drink for his guests and serving it to them is to be understood as her being covered, and fitnah being safe, with no seclusion or mixing occurring. It was only from her preparing and arranging the drink and serving it to her husband’s guests without sitting with them, as there is nothing in the hadith indicating she sat with them, as mentioned in the question. B - Based on what was mentioned in the answer to the first point, it is also said regarding the hadith:Sahih Muslim 2173: that it is to be understood as applying when there is a need to enter upon her in the absence of her husband and mahrams, and fitnah is safe, and the likelihood of their conspiring to commit fornication is remote, not absolutely. This is not interpretation by opinion, but is based on the legal purpose understood from the totality of the texts regarding the preservation of chastity and lineages, the prohibition of violating chastity, and preventing the means leading to that, including the hadith mentioned in this point, where the condition for the permissibility of entering is the presence of what removes seclusion; to remove suspicion and ensure safety from fitnah.
C - There is no legal objection to a woman performing the duty of teaching, preaching, and issuing fatwas, but with regard to the legal hijab, safety from fitnah, and no suspicious mixing, as occurred with 'A'ishah and other mothers of the believers and other female Companions. And by His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He) regarding the mothers of the believers:[Al-Ahzab 33:34]. It is permissible for them to go out with the mujahideen to serve them by giving water, treating the wounded, nursing the injured, and the like, but on the condition that they go out for that purpose with their husbands or a mahram for them; to realize the benefit and preserve their chastity. This is what was the case in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), not as the disbeliever states do, where they go out without a husband or mahram for the purpose of excessive entertainment for the fighters, and recruiting them for that, or for direct combat, for they have been exempted from the burden of weapons. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q2: There are some young men who are committed to Islam, careful to adhere to it, and zealous for it, who are presented with certain doubts, particularly regarding the issue of women. For example: A - They see no objection to a woman entering upon her husband’s guests while he is present, serving them tea and other things, and sitting with them. They cite as evidence for this a hadith narrated by al-Bukhari from Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him)
He said:
When Abu Asid al-Sa'idi held a wedding, he invited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. His wife, Umm Asid, did not prepare any food for them or bring it to them, but she pounded dates in a stone vessel (container) at night. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions finished eating, she pounded it for him—meaning she crushed it with her hand—and gave him a drink of it as a gift.
لما عرس أبو أسيد الساعدي دعا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه، فما صنع لهم طعامًا ولا قربه إليهم إلا امرأته أم أسيد ، بلت تمرات في تور (إناء) من حجارة في الليل، فلما فرغ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه من الطعام أمائته له - أي: هرسته بيدها - فسقته تتحفه بذلكAfter this day no man should enter the house of another person in his absence, but only when he is accompanied by one person or two persons.
لا يدخلن رجل بعد يومي هذا على مغيبة إلا معه رجل أو اثنانD - What is the response to those who say: The hijab of a woman is: that she covers her entire body, showing only her face and her two hands? Their arguments are mentioned in the book (The Hijab of the Muslim Woman in the Book and the Sunnah) authored by Shaykh \ Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani (may Allah preserve him)
Volume 2: A - It is obligatory for a Muslim, when researching the ruling on an Islamic issue, to look at the texts from the Book and the Sunnah that pertain to this issue, as well as the legal evidence that follows from them. This is the most sound path and the one that leads best to hitting the truth. He should not limit his research to one side of its evidence while neglecting the other; otherwise, his view would be incomplete, and he would resemble the people of deviation and desire, who follow the ambiguous parts of the texts seeking fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and desiring to interpret them according to their desires. In such a subject, one must look at the texts of the Book and the Sunnah regarding the obligation of a woman covering her 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), the prohibition of the furtive glance, and the objective of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) in obligating the preservation of honor and lineage, prohibiting their violation and encroachment upon them, and prohibiting the means that lead to that, such as a woman being in seclusion with a man other than her husband or her mahram (a relative one may not marry), exposing her 'awrah, traveling without a mahram, suspicious mixing, and a man and a woman being in one garment, and the like of that which may lead to committing
the crime of fornication. If one looks at the totality of what has been mentioned, he must understand that what came in the hadith of Sahl regarding the wife of Abu Asid preparing food and drink for his guests and serving it to them is to be understood as her being covered, and fitnah being safe, with no seclusion or mixing occurring. It was only from her preparing and arranging the drink and serving it to her husband’s guests without sitting with them, as there is nothing in the hadith indicating she sat with them, as mentioned in the question. B - Based on what was mentioned in the answer to the first point, it is also said regarding the hadith:
After this day no man should enter the house of another person in his absence, but only when he is accompanied by one person or two persons.
لا يدخلن رجل بعد يومي هذا على مغيبة إلا معه رجل أو اثنانC - There is no legal objection to a woman performing the duty of teaching, preaching, and issuing fatwas, but with regard to the legal hijab, safety from fitnah, and no suspicious mixing, as occurred with 'A'ishah and other mothers of the believers and other female Companions. And by His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He) regarding the mothers of the believers:
And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom
وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَى فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.