In the primary school stage, the student's age is between six and ten. Is it permissible for a woman to teach boys at this age, and likewise, is it permissible for men to teach girls at this age?
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The questioner : In the primary school stage, the student enters school at age six and graduates at age ten, meaning he stays for four years. Is it permissible during this period of the primary school stage for women to teach instead of men?
The Shaykh : From age six to ten.
The questioner : From six to ten, meaning he graduates from the kindergarten at six. From four to six, a woman teaches him in the kindergarten. From six to ten in the primary school stage, is it permissible for women to teach him?
The Shaykh : In fact, in this matter, we must consider the opinion of some of those called psychologists today, and we must know that many boys or children develop sexual sensitivity before the age of ten. If it is the general case for these boys or young men that they become sensitive to sexual matters, then it is not permissible for us to raise the age limit to ten; rather, we must lower it to the age at which it is generally the case that the boy does not think about or have sexual matters on his mind. In the books of Islamic jurisprudence, it is true that they mention, regarding many rulings, for example, when a boy becomes accountable? Of course, when he reaches the age of accountability, when he reaches puberty, and this naturally varies from person to person. But this accountability is different from the harms that may result from some boys who have not yet reached the age of accountability. For example, in the Noble Qur'an, if a child has not seen the private parts of women, it is permissible for him to enter upon women while they are in their home clothes. But if he has knowledge and has seen the private parts of women and feels the desire there, even if he has not reached the age of accountability, it is not permissible for a woman to appear before him, and it is not permissible for the guardian of this boy to allow him to enter upon women, even if he has not reached the age of accountability. Likewise here, if it is the general case for children that they feel something of sexual matters, it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to enter upon them. And conversely, if it is not the general case, then it is permissible. This is the criterion in this matter.
The Shaykh : From age six to ten.
The questioner : From six to ten, meaning he graduates from the kindergarten at six. From four to six, a woman teaches him in the kindergarten. From six to ten in the primary school stage, is it permissible for women to teach him?
The Shaykh : In fact, in this matter, we must consider the opinion of some of those called psychologists today, and we must know that many boys or children develop sexual sensitivity before the age of ten. If it is the general case for these boys or young men that they become sensitive to sexual matters, then it is not permissible for us to raise the age limit to ten; rather, we must lower it to the age at which it is generally the case that the boy does not think about or have sexual matters on his mind. In the books of Islamic jurisprudence, it is true that they mention, regarding many rulings, for example, when a boy becomes accountable? Of course, when he reaches the age of accountability, when he reaches puberty, and this naturally varies from person to person. But this accountability is different from the harms that may result from some boys who have not yet reached the age of accountability. For example, in the Noble Qur'an, if a child has not seen the private parts of women, it is permissible for him to enter upon women while they are in their home clothes. But if he has knowledge and has seen the private parts of women and feels the desire there, even if he has not reached the age of accountability, it is not permissible for a woman to appear before him, and it is not permissible for the guardian of this boy to allow him to enter upon women, even if he has not reached the age of accountability. Likewise here, if it is the general case for children that they feel something of sexual matters, it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to enter upon them. And conversely, if it is not the general case, then it is permissible. This is the criterion in this matter.