The Criterion for a Woman Going Out to the Market
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Some of the brothers think: That it is not befitting for the Muslim woman to leave her house with her mahram (a relative one may not marry) to the market absolutely, even if no one observes in her anything that would lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) against her, saying: that the woman, even if she is of a degree of righteousness and uprightness, may look at men, and may be exposed to harm from some, and so on. And in that case, there is a great harm in her going out. So what is the Shari'ah criterion for a woman leaving her house with a mahram and without a mahram out of necessity? I ask you to clarify this matter for me and my brothers, and may Allah preserve you and reward you with good?
There is no doubt that the woman remaining in her house is better and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil, and it is not hidden from us all what happens from the women going out to the markets of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for them and through them. So if it is possible that she does not go out, that is what is required. And if she is compelled to go out, let her go out as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Let them go out disheveled) meaning: not displaying her adornment and not wearing perfume, but she does not go out except for a need, either to buy a need that her wali (the bride's guardian) does not buy for her, because goods differ and she may choose a specific item that her wali does not buy for her,Although I think the matter is easy: and that is by the wali buying the item mentioned to him and saying to the seller: he will show it to his family, if they are pleased with it or return it. And this is possible. So what I see in this matter is that the woman must be confined to her house in all cases and not go out except out of necessity. And if she goes out out of necessity, let her be without perfume and not displaying her adornment.
As for accompanying a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for her, there is no doubt that it is better and more appropriate, but it is not obligatory as long as the matter does not require travel.
But it is regrettable: You find some people coming to the tailor or the merchant with their family, then remaining in the car, and the woman is the one who goes and talks to the men, and perhaps fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occurs with their family. So the person must be a decisive man, jealous of his family, and not do this action. If it is absolutely necessary, let him get down with her and stand by her while she talks to the man or he talks to her, then he talks to the man.
There is no doubt that the woman remaining in her house is better and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil, and it is not hidden from us all what happens from the women going out to the markets of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for them and through them. So if it is possible that she does not go out, that is what is required. And if she is compelled to go out, let her go out as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Let them go out disheveled) meaning: not displaying her adornment and not wearing perfume, but she does not go out except for a need, either to buy a need that her wali (the bride's guardian) does not buy for her, because goods differ and she may choose a specific item that her wali does not buy for her,Although I think the matter is easy: and that is by the wali buying the item mentioned to him and saying to the seller: he will show it to his family, if they are pleased with it or return it. And this is possible. So what I see in this matter is that the woman must be confined to her house in all cases and not go out except out of necessity. And if she goes out out of necessity, let her be without perfume and not displaying her adornment.
As for accompanying a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for her, there is no doubt that it is better and more appropriate, but it is not obligatory as long as the matter does not require travel.
But it is regrettable: You find some people coming to the tailor or the merchant with their family, then remaining in the car, and the woman is the one who goes and talks to the men, and perhaps fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occurs with their family. So the person must be a decisive man, jealous of his family, and not do this action. If it is absolutely necessary, let him get down with her and stand by her while she talks to the man or he talks to her, then he talks to the man.