What is the ruling on children entering the presence of women? Some students of knowledge are strict in this matter, while others are lenient. What is the criterion, with evidence?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah.
Noble Shaykh, I have often seen a difference of opinion among people regarding the issue of children entering the presence of women. As for those who are not students of knowledge, I have seen negligence; some allow a child who is two or fourteen years old, or perhaps older, to enter the presence of women, and they see no harm in it. I have also seen, on the other hand, strictness among some committed brothers in the religion of Allah the Exalted; they prevent even a child who is five years old, or perhaps four, from entering, claiming that the child is intelligent, that he observes, or that he distinguishes between the good and the bad among women. What is the criterion for this, with evidence, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The criterion for this was mentioned by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an, He said:[An-Nur 24:31] up to His saying: [An-Nur 24:31] This is the criterion. If it is seen that the child observes the woman, or touches her, or does something similar, or is inclined toward the beautiful one over the other, it is known that he is aware of the private parts of women. This does not occur except from the age of ten and above.
Unless the child lives in an environment where people constantly talk about women and desire, in which case he may become aware of the private parts of women before reaching the age of ten. This is with regard to a woman showing her face to him.
As for being alone with a woman, one must be very cautious about this. This is because, even if the child does not have what would lead to veiling from him, if he is alone with the woman, the woman herself may have some corruption in her, and she may try to arouse his desire, or perhaps she may gain access to herself or do something similar. Being alone is one thing, and a woman showing her face to a child is another. I mean: one must be very cautious about being alone, lest the woman play with the child. And if we know that some women bring a monkey to them to enjoy it, what about a boy of seven or eight years old? Yes.
The questioner : Regarding showing the face, are we certain that there is nothing wrong with those under the age of ten?
The Shaykh : This is the original ruling, but I told you: provided that he is not in an environment that talks about women and what concerns them.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Noble Shaykh, I have often seen a difference of opinion among people regarding the issue of children entering the presence of women. As for those who are not students of knowledge, I have seen negligence; some allow a child who is two or fourteen years old, or perhaps older, to enter the presence of women, and they see no harm in it. I have also seen, on the other hand, strictness among some committed brothers in the religion of Allah the Exalted; they prevent even a child who is five years old, or perhaps four, from entering, claiming that the child is intelligent, that he observes, or that he distinguishes between the good and the bad among women. What is the criterion for this, with evidence, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The criterion for this was mentioned by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an, He said:
not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّor children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women
أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِUnless the child lives in an environment where people constantly talk about women and desire, in which case he may become aware of the private parts of women before reaching the age of ten. This is with regard to a woman showing her face to him.
As for being alone with a woman, one must be very cautious about this. This is because, even if the child does not have what would lead to veiling from him, if he is alone with the woman, the woman herself may have some corruption in her, and she may try to arouse his desire, or perhaps she may gain access to herself or do something similar. Being alone is one thing, and a woman showing her face to a child is another. I mean: one must be very cautious about being alone, lest the woman play with the child. And if we know that some women bring a monkey to them to enjoy it, what about a boy of seven or eight years old? Yes.
The questioner : Regarding showing the face, are we certain that there is nothing wrong with those under the age of ten?
The Shaykh : This is the original ruling, but I told you: provided that he is not in an environment that talks about women and what concerns them.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.