The mixing of men and women, especially in rural areas where they are considered as one family, and the customs of rural areas differ from those of urban areas
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The questioner : The mixing of men and women, especially in rural areas where they are considered as one family, and the customs of rural areas differ from those of urban areas. We ask for your guidance in this matter?
The Shaykh : There are three matters: The first is a woman traveling alone without a mahram (a relative one may not marry); the second is seclusion with a woman who is not a mahram; and the third is mixing in gatherings. As for the first, which is a woman traveling without a mahram, it is forbidden (haram) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was delivering a sermon to the people:Sahih al-Bukhari 1862 There is no difference between travel for worship and travel for ordinary purposes, due to the generality of the hadith. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to travel for 'Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) without a mahram, even if she is with other women, even if she is advanced in age, and even if she is someone about whom men have no desires, due to the generality of the hadith. It is not permissible for her to travel to visit relatives, visit a friend, or the like. It is not permissible for her to travel for recreation or trade. All these types of travel, in all their forms, are not permissible for her to undertake except with a mahram, due to the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that, and because her travel without a mahram exposes her to the attachment of desires, and she may need something and not find a mahram with her to help her or relieve her of the burden.
The second is that seclusion with a woman without a mahram is forbidden (haram) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1341a And in another hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2165Sahih (Darussalam) This indicates the severe warning from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), because when two people are alone, the third is Satan, and one cannot be safe from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and a slip. There is no difference between the one who is alone with her being a relative who is not a mahram or a non-relative, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 3102 This phrase indicates the severe warning against the seclusion of the hamu (the husband's brother or close relative) with his wife. Some people are negligent in such matters, and you may find two brothers in one house, one of whom has a wife; this husband goes out to work and leaves his wife with his brother in the house. This is one of the most dangerous matters, and how many tragedies we hear about as a result of that. There is no difference in seclusion whether it is in a house, in a car, or the like, because the 'illah (the operative cause of a ruling) present in seclusion in a house is present in seclusion in a car, and the Islamic Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) never distinguishes between two identical things. The negligence of some people in this matter is very serious, because some people send their young daughter with the driver to school, or send their wife with the driver to school, and no one else is with them. This is very dangerous, and we often hear shameful cases as a result of that. So a person should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic), guard the prohibitions of Allah, and have jealousy (protectiveness) over his family and women.
The third category is general mixing. If this is in the market, it is known that the women of Muslims walk in their markets with men, but one must be careful to avoid touching and close proximity, meaning that the woman and the man must both keep their distance from each other. It is very good for her to have a mahram with her when she goes to the market, especially if corruption is widespread. There is a fourth category: it is general, but in reality it has a type of privacy, which is mixing in schools, universities, and institutes. This is more dangerous than mixing in markets, because the man and the woman sit for a long time to listen to the lesson, and they all go out to the school, institute, or college grounds. The danger in this is greater. We ask Allah to protect the Muslim people from all evil and what is disliked.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There are three matters: The first is a woman traveling alone without a mahram (a relative one may not marry); the second is seclusion with a woman who is not a mahram; and the third is mixing in gatherings. As for the first, which is a woman traveling without a mahram, it is forbidden (haram) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was delivering a sermon to the people:
A woman should not travel except with a Dhu-Mahram
لا تسافر المرأة إلا مع ذي محرمThe second is that seclusion with a woman without a mahram is forbidden (haram) based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No person should be alone with a woman
لا يخلون رجل بامرأةA man is not alone with a woman but the third of them is Ash-Shaitan.
ما خلا رجل بامرأة إلا كان ثالثهما الشيطانAvoid going in where women are.” A man said, “Messenger of God, tell me about the relatives of a woman’s husband,” to which he replied, “The relatives of a woman’s husband are death.”
إياكم والدخول على النساء، قالوا: يا رسول الله! أرأيت الحمو؟ قال: الحمو الموتThe third category is general mixing. If this is in the market, it is known that the women of Muslims walk in their markets with men, but one must be careful to avoid touching and close proximity, meaning that the woman and the man must both keep their distance from each other. It is very good for her to have a mahram with her when she goes to the market, especially if corruption is widespread. There is a fourth category: it is general, but in reality it has a type of privacy, which is mixing in schools, universities, and institutes. This is more dangerous than mixing in markets, because the man and the woman sit for a long time to listen to the lesson, and they all go out to the school, institute, or college grounds. The danger in this is greater. We ask Allah to protect the Muslim people from all evil and what is disliked.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, O honorable Shaykh.