What is the ruling on greeting a woman?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. What is the ruling, O Shaykh, on greeting a non-mahram woman?
The Shaykh : The scholars mentioned that this is disliked. It is disliked to greet a non-mahram woman, except an old woman, meaning one who is accustomed to speaking with men; in that case, there is no harm. For example, if you pass by an old woman selling cheap items—some old women sell a cap or simple things, yes, and not expensive ones—“Hello, so-and-so’s mother, what do you have today?” provided that you are certain there is no fitnah (temptation or discord), then there is no harm with that. As for a young woman meeting a young woman and greeting her, that is prohibited. Yes?
The questioner : Now, O Shaykh, how do you explain what is reported in the Seerah (biography) that Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) had a disbeliever come to her and say... How is this possible?
The Shaykh : Do you know that, may Allah increase you in blessing, in the early days of Islam, it was permissible for men to speak to women, and the hijab (covering) was not yet obligatory. It was not made obligatory until later. Yes, O Sami?
The questioner : If we say, O Shaykh, that receiving instruction from a woman is permissible!
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If we say it is permissible, O Shaykh, based on the benefit we mentioned, and if we permit receiving instruction from a woman on the basis of this benefit, what would be the method?
The Shaykh : If it is prohibited, then the method is prohibited.
The questioner : Based on the benefit?
The Shaykh : No, regarding the benefit, we mentioned that it is in the mind, meaning there is doubt about it. The idea that we take it as a means for her to teach people is like a woman being asked questions.
The questioner : I mean, we said, O Shaykh, this...
The Shaykh : No, we say: There is no harm in you asking a woman about a legal issue; there is nothing wrong with that. But for her to position herself as a teacher for men, that is different.
The Shaykh : The scholars mentioned that this is disliked. It is disliked to greet a non-mahram woman, except an old woman, meaning one who is accustomed to speaking with men; in that case, there is no harm. For example, if you pass by an old woman selling cheap items—some old women sell a cap or simple things, yes, and not expensive ones—“Hello, so-and-so’s mother, what do you have today?” provided that you are certain there is no fitnah (temptation or discord), then there is no harm with that. As for a young woman meeting a young woman and greeting her, that is prohibited. Yes?
The questioner : Now, O Shaykh, how do you explain what is reported in the Seerah (biography) that Umm Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with her) had a disbeliever come to her and say... How is this possible?
The Shaykh : Do you know that, may Allah increase you in blessing, in the early days of Islam, it was permissible for men to speak to women, and the hijab (covering) was not yet obligatory. It was not made obligatory until later. Yes, O Sami?
The questioner : If we say, O Shaykh, that receiving instruction from a woman is permissible!
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If we say it is permissible, O Shaykh, based on the benefit we mentioned, and if we permit receiving instruction from a woman on the basis of this benefit, what would be the method?
The Shaykh : If it is prohibited, then the method is prohibited.
The questioner : Based on the benefit?
The Shaykh : No, regarding the benefit, we mentioned that it is in the mind, meaning there is doubt about it. The idea that we take it as a means for her to teach people is like a woman being asked questions.
The questioner : I mean, we said, O Shaykh, this...
The Shaykh : No, we say: There is no harm in you asking a woman about a legal issue; there is nothing wrong with that. But for her to position herself as a teacher for men, that is different.