The obligation of an employee in a workplace with women
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We return at the beginning of this session to the letter of our brother Husayn Falih al-Quda'i, from al-Zahrani. Our brother asks a series of questions, all revolving around a single axis: the interaction between a man and a woman, especially if she is his colleague at work, as he phrases it. So, in his first question, our brother asks: How should a Muslim man treat a non-mahram woman, regardless of her religion, if she is a work colleague and he needs to speak to her about work matters during work hours?
In his second question, he asks: Regarding a working Muslim woman who displays her adornment, is it permissible for a Muslim man to greet her or respond to her greeting, and how is the relationship between a man and a woman defined during work hours?
In his third question: The nature of the work requires a Muslim to interact with working women and consult with some of them regarding work. Sometimes he inadvertently sees from them what he is not permitted to see of a woman, especially if their clothing is not modest. Does he incur sin for this? If this Muslim wishes to address the woman, should he look at her or look at the ground?
His fourth question: On roughly the same topic, if the nature of the work requires a Muslim supervisor to speak to a female employee in private, should he close the office door on them so that no one hears the conversation, or what should he do?
And the final question: The nature of purchasing errands requires discussing with merchants in private, which compels him to close the meeting room on the merchant's representative and the purchasing officer. Sometimes the officer is alone with two or three men in a closed room. What is the ruling on these matters?
I hope you will be kind enough to address this. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: These issues mentioned by the questioner are all important. The obligatory thing, above all else, is that a believer should not work in an environment with women. If the work is among people, it is obligatory to be cautious of this and to seek another job; because this place is a place of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and a place of danger. If there are women among the workers, there is no doubt that he is in great danger; because Satan is eager to cause fitnah between a man and a woman, and is eager for the causes of immorality. So it is obligatory for a believer, wherever he is, not to be content with being a worker among female workers. Likewise, a student in co-educational universities and schools must be cautious of that and seek a school and university that is not co-educational; because his presence with the girls at the desks... the study desks is a means to great evil and major corruption.
And the answer to these questions mentioned by the questioner: It is obligatory for him, when tested with this matter until Allah provides a relief and an exit, to lower his gaze and be cautious of looking at her, or at her beauty, or at her charms. Rather, he should cast his gaze to the ground and not look at her. Whenever he encounters any of that, he should turn away and avert his gaze.
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and in the other wording: Sunan Abi Dawud 2149Hasan (Al-Albani), meaning: The first glance is for you, which came by chance without intention, but the second one, which is intentional for looking, is not permissible. And Allah the Exalted says: [al-Nur: 30], and He says the Exalted: [al-Nur: 31].
So the believer should lower his gaze. If he encounters something without intention, he should avert his gaze. If he is surprised by her at the door, or if he meets her at the door, he should avert his gaze, and Allah forgives the first one that he encountered and did not intend.
Likewise, if he is tested with speaking to her about something related to work, he should speak to her, but without facing her face, without looking at her beauty. Rather, he should turn away from her or cast his gaze to the ground and speak until he finishes his need and leaves. This is among the obligatory matters that a believer must pay attention to.
Likewise, if she goes to buy and sell, she must not be alone with a man, nor with the supervisor, nor with the manager. He must not be alone with her, whether he is a manager, a supervisor, a minister, or a shop owner. He must not be alone with her; because this is a great danger. And it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 1341a, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , or as he said. And in the other wording: Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 2:94.
The point is that being alone (khalwah) contains great danger, so it is not permissible for a believer to be alone with her, and it is not permissible for her to be alone with him, even if it is for needs related to her or her job.
So if it is absolutely necessary, let the door be open. The office door should be open if no one is available to join the meeting. Let the door be open, not closed, so that whoever passes by can see them. And if it is possible to find a third person to be present with them, even if he is far away and does not hear the conversation, but he is in the room and looking, this is what is obligatory so that the forbidden khalwah does not occur. He should invite someone to be a third person and have him stay away from them so that he does not hear the conversation related to work, which is a secret, so that there is no opportunity for Satan.
We ask Allah for everyone well-being and guidance. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. From the principle, are all these scenarios mentioned by our brother considered forbidden?
The Shaykh: Yes, it is not permissible.
The presenter: From the principle?
The Shaykh: From the principle, it is not permissible for him to be in a mixed office, school, or university. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
In his second question, he asks: Regarding a working Muslim woman who displays her adornment, is it permissible for a Muslim man to greet her or respond to her greeting, and how is the relationship between a man and a woman defined during work hours?
In his third question: The nature of the work requires a Muslim to interact with working women and consult with some of them regarding work. Sometimes he inadvertently sees from them what he is not permitted to see of a woman, especially if their clothing is not modest. Does he incur sin for this? If this Muslim wishes to address the woman, should he look at her or look at the ground?
His fourth question: On roughly the same topic, if the nature of the work requires a Muslim supervisor to speak to a female employee in private, should he close the office door on them so that no one hears the conversation, or what should he do?
And the final question: The nature of purchasing errands requires discussing with merchants in private, which compels him to close the meeting room on the merchant's representative and the purchasing officer. Sometimes the officer is alone with two or three men in a closed room. What is the ruling on these matters?
I hope you will be kind enough to address this. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: These issues mentioned by the questioner are all important. The obligatory thing, above all else, is that a believer should not work in an environment with women. If the work is among people, it is obligatory to be cautious of this and to seek another job; because this place is a place of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and a place of danger. If there are women among the workers, there is no doubt that he is in great danger; because Satan is eager to cause fitnah between a man and a woman, and is eager for the causes of immorality. So it is obligatory for a believer, wherever he is, not to be content with being a worker among female workers. Likewise, a student in co-educational universities and schools must be cautious of that and seek a school and university that is not co-educational; because his presence with the girls at the desks... the study desks is a means to great evil and major corruption.
And the answer to these questions mentioned by the questioner: It is obligatory for him, when tested with this matter until Allah provides a relief and an exit, to lower his gaze and be cautious of looking at her, or at her beauty, or at her charms. Rather, he should cast his gaze to the ground and not look at her. Whenever he encounters any of that, he should turn away and avert his gaze.
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
He was asked about the sudden glance, so he said to the questioner: Avert your gaze
أنه سئل عن نظر الفجأة، فقال للسائل: اصرف بصركwhile you are not to blame for the first, you have no right to the second.
فإن لك الأولى وليست لك الأخرىTell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْAnd tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّSo the believer should lower his gaze. If he encounters something without intention, he should avert his gaze. If he is surprised by her at the door, or if he meets her at the door, he should avert his gaze, and Allah forgives the first one that he encountered and did not intend.
Likewise, if he is tested with speaking to her about something related to work, he should speak to her, but without facing her face, without looking at her beauty. Rather, he should turn away from her or cast his gaze to the ground and speak until he finishes his need and leaves. This is among the obligatory matters that a believer must pay attention to.
Likewise, if she goes to buy and sell, she must not be alone with a man, nor with the supervisor, nor with the manager. He must not be alone with her, whether he is a manager, a supervisor, a minister, or a shop owner. He must not be alone with her; because this is a great danger. And it is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
No person should be alone with a woman except when there is a Mahram with her
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا ومعها ذو محرمNo man is alone with a woman except that Satan is the third among them.
ما خلا رجل بامرأة إلا كان الشيطان ثالثهماA man should not be alone with a woman, for Satan is the third among them.
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة فإن الشيطان ثالثهماThe point is that being alone (khalwah) contains great danger, so it is not permissible for a believer to be alone with her, and it is not permissible for her to be alone with him, even if it is for needs related to her or her job.
So if it is absolutely necessary, let the door be open. The office door should be open if no one is available to join the meeting. Let the door be open, not closed, so that whoever passes by can see them. And if it is possible to find a third person to be present with them, even if he is far away and does not hear the conversation, but he is in the room and looking, this is what is obligatory so that the forbidden khalwah does not occur. He should invite someone to be a third person and have him stay away from them so that he does not hear the conversation related to work, which is a secret, so that there is no opportunity for Satan.
We ask Allah for everyone well-being and guidance. There is no power and no strength except by Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. From the principle, are all these scenarios mentioned by our brother considered forbidden?
The Shaykh: Yes, it is not permissible.
The presenter: From the principle?
The Shaykh: From the principle, it is not permissible for him to be in a mixed office, school, or university. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.