What are the limits of a woman’s garment? And what is the ruling on her driving a car?

The questioner : Are the two sandals considered a lawful covering for the feet, or is it necessary to lengthen the garment to cover the feet?

The Shaykh : We have already answered him, and the summary of our answer is that this question is theoretical and not practical. If you imagine a woman’s garment covering the top of the foot but not the toes, and a little of what is above it, this cannot be achieved except for a woman who is told, “Stand still.” But if she is walking, and we assume her garment reaches here, and the rest of the foot is covered by the shoe, well, when she wants to walk, won’t what is above the part covered by the shoe become visible? It is impossible for it not to appear.

The questioner : Yes, when she walks, it appears.

The Shaykh : Exactly, therefore the question is not practical.

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : Do you have any doubt about the permissibility of riding a donkey?

The questioner : By Allah, there is absolutely no doubt, but I want to tell you where the doubt came from: the car!

The Shaykh : I may not have understood my last question. My question to you was whether you have any doubt about the permissibility of a woman riding a donkey, not a car!

The questioner : I have no doubt.

The Shaykh : Ah, now we will ask a second question: Is it more honorable and more concealing for her to ride a car or a donkey?

The questioner : By Allah, the car is more concealing, without any doubt or hesitation, meaning...

The Shaykh : They say in our region in Syria, “Give this to the one who is present.”

The questioner : Just as they say in our region in Jordan.

The Shaykh : We return to saying that if riding a car is more concealing for her, by analogy to what is established for us regarding the permissibility of her riding a donkey, then the permissibility of a woman riding a car and driving it is established. The issue arose because a car might expose the hubcap. I am asking: Is it permissible for a donkey to expose [its parts]? Is this permissible or not?

The questioner : Of course, it is possible.

The Shaykh : And the same applies to a camel. The story of the camel falling with Safiyyah on it occurred; she fell to the ground, may Allah have mercy on her and preserve her. Talhah was behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); he ran and threw his cloak over Safiyyah. What happened could have happened to anyone else. Despite this, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not prevent women from riding a mount.
Abu Layla : Let themThe Shaykh : eat and then.

The Shaykh : He is digesting.

The Shaykh : The contingencies that arise have no value compared to this primary analogy, because any possibility raised regarding a woman riding a car is also possible, and even more strongly, regarding a mount.

The questioner : There is a possibility, Professor, and Allah knows best. It is not currently the case that if a woman is driving a car and hits someone, she must go to the police station herself, whereas a donkey does not hit, and nothing happens from it?

The Shaykh : No, that is wrong. A donkey can kick, so what happens then?

The questioner : A camel does not require a license, unlike a car.
Al-Halabi : Professor, regarding the times, meaning the ID card and the like, does the rule of “repelling harms” apply in this context?

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. May the righteous have eaten your food, may the angels have blessed you, and may the fasting ones have broken their fast with you.

The questioner : Eat, Professor.

The Shaykh : Eat. The meat is in front of me. I did not eat rice; I ate meat.

The questioner : Two plates and good health.

The Shaykh : Eat from the blessingThe Shaykh : , eat, or is this your blessing?
Al-Halabi : Today, one person came beforeAbu Layla : , and he spoke because it is the hand that shakes hands withThe Shaykh : , then I remembered a story. I said, that Sufi who kissed a young man’s mouth and said, “I kiss the mouth that says, ‘There is no god but Allah.’” I seek refuge in Allah from them!

The Shaykh : Allah is the Helper. The objection you raised, my brother, is not valid, because this would mean that we prevent the woman, by way of blocking the means to harm, from driving a car. Therefore, a fortiori, we would prevent her from riding in a car.
Al-Halabi : But necessity is measured by its extent, meaning when there are people in a group.

The Shaykh : And here, necessity is not measured by its extent. The time is one, and you are speaking about time.
Al-Halabi : Yes, that is correct.

The Shaykh : You are regulating the door of blocking the means to harm in our time. In that case, it means that a woman does not ride in a car at all.
Al-Halabi : But when she is with people and a group, meaning, for example, now a woman is driving a car by herself, it is possible in an area... people.

The Shaykh : Is this in the desert or in the city?
Al-Halabi : Even in the city, some remote areas are like this.

The Shaykh : This, my brother, is said of any car a woman or two women ride in for a fare. And if this is said, it means we have narrowed a wide mercy from Allah... And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

Another questioner : Well, is it possible, Shaykh, that a woman is exposed to something while driving, hitting a car or colliding with another car?

The Shaykh : Anything is possible, my brother. Anything is possible. Our example, my brother, is sufficient. Anything that can happen in a car can happen with the mount she rode.

The questioner : But it is possible that if a mount collides with a mount, it leads to the imprisonment of the owner of the mount.

The Shaykh : Not a mount with a mount, but a mount with a person?

Another questioner : If your mount runs over a person, they will take you to prison.