Regarding the fatwa on seclusion: some women have started going to the market or with drivers without a mahram, relying on your fatwa on this matter
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The questioner : Our Shaykh, regarding the fatwa on seclusion; some women have started going to the market or with drivers without a mahram; relying on your fatwa on this; is that correct, O Shaykh? I ask you to clarify what the fatwa means? And may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Seclusion, according to the scholars, is a man being alone with a woman who is not lawful for him in a place with closed doors, such that no one knows what is happening there. However, if a woman enters a shop to buy a need, and this shop has open doors, so that anyone passing by the street, let alone those who want to enter this shop, can see what might be there, then this is not seclusion by the consensus of the scholars. Therefore, calling this woman’s riding in a car that she secluded with her driver is a fallacy that is not hidden from the people of knowledge. All that can be said—and I have said this on this occasion more than once—is that there is no harm in a woman riding in a car in the middle of the town, if it is not the custom of some drivers in that town to snatch women by the way of their riding in cars. If this condition is met, then first, there is no seclusion as we mentioned, and there is no fear either; so there is no harm in this riding in such a car and in such a town. However, if the town is a town of fitnah and a town of assault on the honor of women, then at that time it is not permissible for her to ride except with a mahram, or to ride with a group of women such that it is most likely that the driver cannot assault them or do with them what is not permissible by the Shari'ah.
This is what we say and we testify to Allah with it.
And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Those present : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Seclusion, according to the scholars, is a man being alone with a woman who is not lawful for him in a place with closed doors, such that no one knows what is happening there. However, if a woman enters a shop to buy a need, and this shop has open doors, so that anyone passing by the street, let alone those who want to enter this shop, can see what might be there, then this is not seclusion by the consensus of the scholars. Therefore, calling this woman’s riding in a car that she secluded with her driver is a fallacy that is not hidden from the people of knowledge. All that can be said—and I have said this on this occasion more than once—is that there is no harm in a woman riding in a car in the middle of the town, if it is not the custom of some drivers in that town to snatch women by the way of their riding in cars. If this condition is met, then first, there is no seclusion as we mentioned, and there is no fear either; so there is no harm in this riding in such a car and in such a town. However, if the town is a town of fitnah and a town of assault on the honor of women, then at that time it is not permissible for her to ride except with a mahram, or to ride with a group of women such that it is most likely that the driver cannot assault them or do with them what is not permissible by the Shari'ah.
This is what we say and we testify to Allah with it.
And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Those present : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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