The Proliferation of Fitnah in This Age in Markets and Public Places Where Women Frequently Go Out Without a Mahram: Is There Any Guidance?
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The questioner : The questioner says: May the Shaykh be respected, fitnah has increased in this age, especially in markets and public places where women frequently go out without a mahram, to a degree that draws attention, particularly in this blessed city. We see some signs of evil and see many women, indeed girls, standing in lines waiting for public transport and other means to take them to the markets. I ask for your guidance in this blessed gathering, may Allah make you beneficial to His servants.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the fitnah of women is more harmful to men than any other fitnah, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Mishkat al-Masabih 3085 And there is no doubt that in this land, Allah has blessed us with many blessings: security, comfort, livelihood, health, and all of these are causes of evil and corruption. For this reason, the poet says:
"Indeed, youth, leisure, and wealth—meaning affluence—are a corruption for a man, what a corruption!"
Meaning that it is a great corruption. And there is no doubt that among women, there are girls who have a passion for going down to the markets, even for the smallest need, or for a need that her youngest brother could handle, yet she insists on going herself. And there is no doubt that among the foolish people in the markets or in the shops, there are those who become a cause for women to be fitnah-struck, so you find a woman going out just to go to that shop or that market, and evil occurs. But what is the solution to that? The solution
First: that sound belief be cultivated in the understanding of these girls, that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the Guardian, the All-Seeing, who knows the treachery of the eyes and what the breasts conceal. That love of chastity and distance from obscenity and its causes be cultivated in them. That women be prevented from leaving their homes, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only forbade preventing them from going to the mosques, but as for the markets, the man is free; he has the right to prevent her. She is prevented from leaving the house except for a need that no one else can fulfill. I mention this exception as a precaution, otherwise I do not think there is a need that only women can fulfill, for every woman can say to her brother, "Brother, buy me such-and-such a need." But we mentioned this exception as a precaution. And the man should be as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made him the maintainer (qawwam) over the woman, not that the woman is the one who manages him, for Allah says:[An-Nisa 4:34] So let him be a true maintainer and let him prevent her, but not with violence, rather with gentleness, explaining the harms and clarifying the reward and recompense if they stay in their homes, for Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ahzab 33:33] meaning the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), who are the most complete of women in chastity and the most upright in the religion of Allah, and yet Allah said to them: [Al-Ahzab 33:33]
Likewise, among the causes of repelling this fitnah is that the girl have work in the house, such that a maid is not brought in except in the most extreme necessity, for if a maid enters the house, the woman will stop all work and remain confined to the house if she does not go out, and at that time this idleness will force her to go out. But if she has no maid and becomes busy in her house with preparing food, washing clothes, making the beds, and the like, she will have vitality in the house, become active, and not care whether she goes out or not.
So the important thing is that my advice to my brothers, the men, especially, and to the women as well, is that their guiding principle should always be reform and distance from fitnah.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the fitnah of women is more harmful to men than any other fitnah, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
I have not left behind me a trial more injurious to men than women.
ما تركت بعدي فتنة أضر على الرجال من النساء"Indeed, youth, leisure, and wealth—meaning affluence—are a corruption for a man, what a corruption!"
Meaning that it is a great corruption. And there is no doubt that among women, there are girls who have a passion for going down to the markets, even for the smallest need, or for a need that her youngest brother could handle, yet she insists on going herself. And there is no doubt that among the foolish people in the markets or in the shops, there are those who become a cause for women to be fitnah-struck, so you find a woman going out just to go to that shop or that market, and evil occurs. But what is the solution to that? The solution
First: that sound belief be cultivated in the understanding of these girls, that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the Guardian, the All-Seeing, who knows the treachery of the eyes and what the breasts conceal. That love of chastity and distance from obscenity and its causes be cultivated in them. That women be prevented from leaving their homes, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only forbade preventing them from going to the mosques, but as for the markets, the man is free; he has the right to prevent her. She is prevented from leaving the house except for a need that no one else can fulfill. I mention this exception as a precaution, otherwise I do not think there is a need that only women can fulfill, for every woman can say to her brother, "Brother, buy me such-and-such a need." But we mentioned this exception as a precaution. And the man should be as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made him the maintainer (qawwam) over the woman, not that the woman is the one who manages him, for Allah says:
Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth.
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْAnd abide in your houses
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّAnd abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُLikewise, among the causes of repelling this fitnah is that the girl have work in the house, such that a maid is not brought in except in the most extreme necessity, for if a maid enters the house, the woman will stop all work and remain confined to the house if she does not go out, and at that time this idleness will force her to go out. But if she has no maid and becomes busy in her house with preparing food, washing clothes, making the beds, and the like, she will have vitality in the house, become active, and not care whether she goes out or not.
So the important thing is that my advice to my brothers, the men, especially, and to the women as well, is that their guiding principle should always be reform and distance from fitnah.