Is it permissible for a veiled woman to drive a car?
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The Shaykh : I said that this leads us to the second issue, or the second part of the question, which is whether a Muslim woman who wears the Shari'ah-prescribed hijab may drive a car. I say there is no difference between a mount and a car, and I do not think any scholar among the scholars of the Muslims is unaware that the women of the Companions used to ride mounts, camels, and donkeys, in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). They enjoyed what Allah created for all people, men and women, of... So what is the difference between a woman riding a mount and a woman riding in a car? Yes, there is a very great difference, but it is in favor of the Muslim woman. If a woman rides a mount, she is exposed to the men who pass by her on her right and on her left. But when a woman drives a car, nothing of her is visible except her shoulders and her head, so... the car is more concealing for the woman. However, if some women who do not fear Allah and do not revere Allah use the car as a means to fulfill some forbidden desires, this is not a reason to forbid pious, righteous women from enjoying what Allah has made lawful for them. Just as a woman can use the car to fulfill her forbidden desire, she can also use a mount for the same forbidden desire. She might say, for example, "I am going to the field or the farm or something similar" under the pretext of searching, searching, searching, etc., while she intends to meet, for example, her lover or her paramour. Do we say that if such women are found, we forbid women from riding mounts, even though they used to do so in the purest era, the first era, which is the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? No... This cannot be said. Rather, all that can be said is that driving a car is a blessing for men and women, but many people often use Allah's blessing in what Allah has forbidden.
