I work as a teacher in a village about fifteen kilometers from my city. She says she has no one to take her to the school, so I go with some of the female teachers.
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The questioner : She says that she works as a teacher in a village about fifteen kilometers from her city. She says she has no one to take her to the school, so I go with some of the female teachers and the brother of one of them. Is this considered, O Shaykh, a forbidden journey?
The Shaykh : What appears to me is that this is not a journey, because it is not a journey in the sense that people customarily understand. This woman will go to her place of work and return on the same day. In our time, people do not prepare for such a trip as they do for a journey, nor do they consider it a journey. They do not see off the traveler, nor do they bid him farewell, nor do they welcome him with the greeting given to one who has arrived. Therefore, it is permissible for her to go with her colleagues to the school, teach, and return on the same day over such a short distance.
As for her going alone with the driver, who is not one of her mahram (a relative one may not marry), this is forbidden (haram) and not permissible for her, whether this is within the town or outside of it. This is because it constitutes seclusion (khalwah) with a non-mahram, and because it is a cause of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1341a.
He warned against the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and falling into them in several hadiths. Among them is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):, meaning that one should keep away out of fear of the fitnah of the Dajjal (the false messiah). Therefore, one must be cautious of and keep away from all causes of fitnah.
We have passed through, in what people ask about regarding fitnah and evil, the matter of a woman riding alone with a man who is not one of her mahram. We have mentioned something on this, but this is not the place to detail it. However, I warn my brothers, the listeners, against being negligent in this matter, for it is extremely serious. May Allah grant success.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : What appears to me is that this is not a journey, because it is not a journey in the sense that people customarily understand. This woman will go to her place of work and return on the same day. In our time, people do not prepare for such a trip as they do for a journey, nor do they consider it a journey. They do not see off the traveler, nor do they bid him farewell, nor do they welcome him with the greeting given to one who has arrived. Therefore, it is permissible for her to go with her colleagues to the school, teach, and return on the same day over such a short distance.
As for her going alone with the driver, who is not one of her mahram (a relative one may not marry), this is forbidden (haram) and not permissible for her, whether this is within the town or outside of it. This is because it constitutes seclusion (khalwah) with a non-mahram, and because it is a cause of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No person should be alone with a woman
لا يخلون رجل بامرأةHe warned against the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and falling into them in several hadiths. Among them is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever hears of the Dajjal, let him keep away from him.
من سمع بالدجال فلينأى عنهWe have passed through, in what people ask about regarding fitnah and evil, the matter of a woman riding alone with a man who is not one of her mahram. We have mentioned something on this, but this is not the place to detail it. However, I warn my brothers, the listeners, against being negligent in this matter, for it is extremely serious. May Allah grant success.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.