In this age, it has become common for some guardians to leave their female relatives alone in the markets without mahrams, or for them to go with the driver alone.
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The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : In this age, it has become common for some guardians to leave their female relatives alone in the markets without mahrams, or for them to go with the driver alone, or to go to school without mahrams. It is observed that some of them wait for their guardians for long periods after finishing their shopping, all alone. So what is your guidance on this occasion? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : I see that it is obligatory for a person to have jealousy (ghirah) for his mahrams, whether they are wives, daughters, sisters, or even mothers. He should strive with utmost effort to ensure that a woman does not go out alone, especially if she is young and goes to a market crowded with men. For that is a danger to her and to others. A woman is a fitnah (trial); she is tempted and others are tempted by her. So in this situation, he must accompany her. But unfortunately, ghirah has died in many people. Do you not know that a man comes to the tailor, and the woman goes down to speak to the tailor about what she wants, while the man sits in the car and does not stand with her? This indicates weak faith and the death of ghirah. How do you feel when you are in the car and your wife, daughter, or sister is speaking to the tailor, perhaps with words you do not know whether they are permissible or forbidden? Perhaps she softens her voice, and thus falls into what Allah has forbidden in His saying:[Al-Ahzab 33:32]. This is a great trial.
It is obligatory for a person to take care of his family, and his ghirah should prevent him from being negligent in this matter. Also, some people send their daughter or sister with the driver alone to school. This is haram (forbidden), because this is khalwah (seclusion) with a non-mahram woman, and this is greater. The meaning of non-mahram is: she is not one of his mahrams. This is greater than seclusion in a room, because the driver is able to be driven by Shaytan to agree with the girl on a forbidden matter, take her wherever he wishes, and satisfy his desire. Then he returns her to school or to her family if the study time has ended. So the matter is serious. It is not permissible for a person to send his daughter or any of his mahrams with a driver alone.
The Shaykh : I see that it is obligatory for a person to have jealousy (ghirah) for his mahrams, whether they are wives, daughters, sisters, or even mothers. He should strive with utmost effort to ensure that a woman does not go out alone, especially if she is young and goes to a market crowded with men. For that is a danger to her and to others. A woman is a fitnah (trial); she is tempted and others are tempted by her. So in this situation, he must accompany her. But unfortunately, ghirah has died in many people. Do you not know that a man comes to the tailor, and the woman goes down to speak to the tailor about what she wants, while the man sits in the car and does not stand with her? This indicates weak faith and the death of ghirah. How do you feel when you are in the car and your wife, daughter, or sister is speaking to the tailor, perhaps with words you do not know whether they are permissible or forbidden? Perhaps she softens her voice, and thus falls into what Allah has forbidden in His saying:
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 مَرَضٌIt is obligatory for a person to take care of his family, and his ghirah should prevent him from being negligent in this matter. Also, some people send their daughter or sister with the driver alone to school. This is haram (forbidden), because this is khalwah (seclusion) with a non-mahram woman, and this is greater. The meaning of non-mahram is: she is not one of his mahrams. This is greater than seclusion in a room, because the driver is able to be driven by Shaytan to agree with the girl on a forbidden matter, take her wherever he wishes, and satisfy his desire. Then he returns her to school or to her family if the study time has ended. So the matter is serious. It is not permissible for a person to send his daughter or any of his mahrams with a driver alone.