A woman who vows not to shake hands with men or speak to them
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Honorable Shaykh! If a woman vows not to shake hands with men or speak to them, what is the ruling on that?
Even if they are her mahrams?The questioner: No.
Other than her mahrams, what is the ruling on that? May Allah reward you with good.Answer: As for her vow not to shake hands with men, that is good and a vow of obedience.
As for her vow not to speak to men, that is not an act of obedience; because speaking to men is not forbidden unless fitnah is feared from it. If she is a woman who, whenever she speaks to a man, her desire is stirred and she takes pleasure in his speech, then it is forbidden for her, but this is a specific case.
As for the general case, it is permissible for a woman to speak to a man, and it is permissible for a man to hear her voice, just as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to hear the voices of the women who came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to seek his ruling.
In fact, the Qur'an indicates this,Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab: 32] He said: (Do not be soft in speech) and this indicates that the ordinary voice is not a problem.
So if there is a reason specific to her such that whenever she speaks to any man, her desire is stirred or she takes pleasure in his speech, then this is a vow of obedience, and she must fulfill it and not speak to men. And if she is safe from this, then it is a permissible vow; if she wishes, she may speak to men and expiate for the oath, and if she wishes, she may not speak to them, and there is no expiation on her if she does not speak to them.
Even if they are her mahrams?The questioner: No.
Other than her mahrams, what is the ruling on that? May Allah reward you with good.Answer: As for her vow not to shake hands with men, that is good and a vow of obedience.
As for her vow not to speak to men, that is not an act of obedience; because speaking to men is not forbidden unless fitnah is feared from it. If she is a woman who, whenever she speaks to a man, her desire is stirred and she takes pleasure in his speech, then it is forbidden for her, but this is a specific case.
As for the general case, it is permissible for a woman to speak to a man, and it is permissible for a man to hear her voice, just as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to hear the voices of the women who came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to seek his ruling.
In fact, the Qur'an indicates this,Allah the Exalted said:
then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet
فَلا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌSo if there is a reason specific to her such that whenever she speaks to any man, her desire is stirred or she takes pleasure in his speech, then this is a vow of obedience, and she must fulfill it and not speak to men. And if she is safe from this, then it is a permissible vow; if she wishes, she may speak to men and expiate for the oath, and if she wishes, she may not speak to them, and there is no expiation on her if she does not speak to them.