Is it permissible for a male teacher to teach girls without a barrier?

The questioner : The question, naturally, is about the field of education, specifically regarding what I have seen of the brothers in the Islamic Guidance and Compassion Association in Tripoli. The brothers have, in brief, an institute that studies from middle school to high school, six years. They started this institute expecting the number to be around forty. It appears, based on this, that some of the publications, meaning advertising for this institute for those who wanted to send their sons and daughters to study there, is what happened: some of the sects, particularly the Shi'ah or the Habash, usually the brothers would put up the posters, and they would be removed immediately. The people see this matter, then they are put up in front of the people, and when the glue dries, or whatever, they are covered with paint, and a trace remains so that the people see the Islamic Guidance and Compassion Institute. Now, the people, may Allah be praised, these people wanted something, so Allah, Glorified and Exalted, thwarted them, and the brothers were forced to adopt another method: by car and by radio in the regions of the country, and even by broadcasting. This matter surprised them, in that instead of the number being fifty or forty, it came in the hundreds, and reached five hundred. Now, those who are present, the brothers, as for their level, some of them, meaning, studied at the Islamic University in Medina and returned, and some of them, meaning, are now studying in institutes. There are men, meaning, I mean males. The number who submitted, about half of them are boys and half are girls. They are distributed among these stages. As for the issue of education, naturally, filling the gap for those who study boys, as for the women, some of the sisters were able to undertake teaching, but some, or the majority, do not have, meaning, this possibility for women to teach, especially some of the religious subjects, especially since the institute is entirely Islamic, meaning religious subjects. So they were forced to have some of the brothers, temporarily, teach the girls temporarily, and they notify the sisters that this is not what is appropriate and not what is valid, and it does not mean in the religion of Allah that this is so; we are now only out of necessity, our compulsion is like that of pork or intoxicants, only, meaning, in a temporary state until one of you or some of you, meaning, becomes qualified to fill this gap. When I saw the situation was like that, I said, I am not able to speak on this issue until I convey the picture to the Shaykh. The other thing is that you, at least, take the least harm if this matter, meaning, is necessary. The original principle is that the teacher, if it is facilitated, should be married, and then, naturally, it is even more preferable that he be one of religion and good character. This is one thing. The other thing is that he should be behind a hijab, if you are able, meaning, the original principle, regardless of the discussion of 'awrah or not 'awrah, the hijab is the covering of the face. Men and women are commanded to lower the gaze. So even if the teacher is able to deliver the lesson, at least he cannot be one who lowers his gaze. If you placed a barrier, they said the barrier preventsThe student : them from seeing the board on which some of the scientific subjects like arithmetic and mathematics are explained, and so on. I said, O brothers, at least let them seeThe student : the board, naturally, with the teacher, and the teacher does not see them. Either they explain it by a reflective mirror method, or by colored glass. If the glass is placed and some lights are on the right and left, he sees himself in a mirror, and they see the board and see him at least. So my question from this angle is: is the current situation considered sound?

The Shaykh : I say, may Allah reward you, what you mentioned is what they must adopt, because it is true that necessities permit the prohibited, but this rule is not absolute; rather, it is restricted by a condition, which is that "necessity is estimated by its degree." The models or means that you suggested they adopt, this is obligatory, like these means that prevent the teacher from seeing the girls, and also that he be married and chaste. All of this that you mentioned is entirely within the two mentioned rules: necessity permits the prohibited, and necessity is estimated by its degree. But the age here, as for the girls, without doubt, has an impact, and it is a major factor. What is the maximum age that can be, for example, how much?

The questioner : They vary, because it is from middle school to high school, so some of them, meaning, are young, and some of them are about twenty.

The Shaykh : If so, this means that the means I mentioned earlier is necessary.

The questioner : Specifically in the classes where the age of the women is older.

The Shaykh : These means are necessary.

The questioner : As I said, O brothers, why did you rush regarding the number? At least, if, for example, I say, if thousands were presented to you, you would be forced, compelled, because there is no one to fill these gaps, that you delay the matter. You, this number came to you, at least, meaning, if you had been content with some female teachers initially, until the others became qualified. They said, O brother, they did not leave us alone; the sects there, the Habash, they went to the houses and warned the fathers about these, about their daughters studying in this institute, and that these are disbelievers, those who liken Allah to creation, those who ascribe a body to Allah, and so on. They said, if we leave them, it is either to the government schools which have trials, or otherwise, or to these who mislead them, meaning, in matters of creed. So we are compelled to this matter. Then I said, meaning, if you adopted this barrier, they said, O brother, the institute is originally free of charge; we receive aid from outside the country, meaning, we cannot even do these things until Allah, Glorified and Exalted, facilitates for us. We said, the matter, meaning, if it is

The Shaykh : there is no solution for us.

The questioner : If Allah facilitates financially, it is necessary that...

The Shaykh : It is necessary, it is necessary but they must keep these means in mind to adopt them.