Hadeeth: Fixing certain time and place for teaching women

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Narrated Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه:

❝Some women requested the Prophet ﷺ to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (101)]

Narrated Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه:

❝A woman came to Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ and said: “O Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ! Men (only) benefit by your teachings, so please devote to us from (some of) your time, a day on which we may come to you so that you may teach us of what Allaah has taught you.” Allaah's Messenger ﷺ said: ❝Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a place.❞ They gathered and Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ came to them and taught them of what Allaah had taught him.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7310) and Saheeh Muslim (6368)]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said (paraphrased):

❝In this is proof for the prohibition of free mixing (between the opposite genders); (further) proof to this is that the women were instructed to be in the last rows for the prayers, and that the men were instructed not to move from their place till the women went out first.❞

[الحلل الإبريزية (1/42)]

۝۝۞۝۝

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

* From the benefit of this Hadeeth is we learn that the female companions were keen in seeking knowledge.

* Also we learn that the people whom the Prophet ﷺ addressed the most were men, which is evidence that the women are not equal to men in seeking knowledge, or in carrying it, or in spreading it, or in acting upon it, nor in calling towards it.

[TN: Further evidences are that only males were sent as Prophets and Messengers; and the witness of two women is equal to one man, and that on certain days they do not pray or fast.]

* Also we learn from this that it is permissible for a knowledgeable person, rather it is from the Sunnah to comply with the request of the people when they ask him to visit them for teaching the matters of the Deen.

[Sharh of Saheeh al-Bukhaaree by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (1/267-268)]

۝۝۞۝۝

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله further said:

* In this there is proof that there is no problem if the women were to gather in a certain place and a reliable, trustworthy person comes to teach them. So from this we learn the permissibility of men teaching the women. But if he fears for the Fitnah, then it is not permissible for him, as the first and foremost thing to do is to avert the Fitnah or it would lead to corruption.*

* In this there is also evidence that the women did not used to mix with men while seeking knowledge. If it was permissible the Prophet ﷺ would have said to them: “attend the gatherings with the men.” But he legislated that there should be no intermingling between men and women, even while seeking knowledge. This is why it was seen that the women used to (attend the Masaajid and) offer the prayers with the Prophet ﷺ, but he would instruct them to be at the end by saying: ❝…the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.❞ [Saheeh Muslim]

All this was done in order to avoid the intermingling (of women) with men (and to avert the Fitnah).

* In this there is also proof that there is no problem in fixing a certain place and time for teaching, as the Prophet ﷺ instructed the women saying: ❝Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a place.❞ So he fixed a time and place for them.

[Sharh of Saheeh al-Bukhaaree by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (10/102-103) and Sharh Saheeh Muslim (7/477-478)]

*[TN: Not everyone qualifies for this. Moreover, to avoid the Fitnah there should be no seclusion and proper Hijaab should be maintained, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ﴾

{And when you ask (the women) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts.} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 53]

And the speech should be limited to what is necessary:

﴿إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا﴾

{If you fear Allaah, then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner.} [Surah al-Ahzaab (33): 32]

۝۝

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen said:

❝The woman should speak with the seller (or shopkeeper) to the extent of her need, and she should not go beyond this (by getting involved in unnecessary conversation), as the Prophet said: ❝Shiataan circulates in the body of a person like blood.❞ [Saheehain]

How many women claim that they are far away from being affected by this Fitnah, but the Shaitaan does not stop till he pushes them into it. Perhaps a woman may get into a conversation with a man and speak more than what was required, and then she leaves. After she leaves, the Shaitaan may tempt her so that she goes back to the same man. So what was started with a (simple) conversation ends up into something more evil – we seek Allaah’s refuge from this.

The women should fear Allaah and should not soften their voice, and should not speak much except what for is necessary. And from this is – what would be considered as a clear trial, rather it is an ultimate trial – the conversation which takes place (between the opposite genders) over the phone. The foolish among the men will have a conversation with the women over the phone and will speak to her in a sweet and charming manner. Then he will call her again and again, and will record her conversations. Then this leads to a problem, i.e. it will not stop here. He would set a trap for her and record her conversation, and then when he wants to fulfill his evil desires, he will blackmail her saying: “either you come to me or I will spread your conversation and give it to your father or brother.” This is why the women should be careful and avoid conversations with men for it is really dangerous. We seek Allaah’s refuge from the temptations.❞

[Liqaa’ Shahree (45/17)]

۝۝

Question: What is the ruling on the Shaikhs who are blind and teach girls of high schools? When she has to recite the Qur’aan, she has to beautify her voice. So what is your opinion on their softening their voice in front of such a person?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen: ❝There is no problem when a blind man teaches the women if he is reliable (and pious). But if there are doubts about him, then it is not allowed for him to teach them. Rather, he should not be allowed to teach them at any cost.

So the question arises: If he is allowed to teach, is it allowed for the women to look at him? The answer is: Yes!

It is allowed for a woman to look at a man but with the condition that it should not be out of desire, as it is not Haraam for the women to look at the men. The evidence for this is the instructions of the Prophet ﷺ to Fatimah bint Qais: ❝Pass your waiting period with Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he is a blind man. You can put off your (outer) garments with him (i. e. you shall not face much difficulty in observing Hijaab in his place).❞ [Saheeh Muslim]

Also because the Prophet ﷺ was screening `Aaishah رضي الله عنها while she was watching the Abyssinians were playing with their spears (and displaying their skills) in the Masjid.

As for the recitation of the Qur’aan in front of this blind man in a soft voice and beautifying it, I fear that it will lead to Fitnah. One can recite the Qur’aan in a nice way (i.e. with Tarteel) without having the need to beautify her voice. Beautifying the voice is grave danger, especially if she is a young girl, as Allaah تعالى said:

{…be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner}

So she can recite the Qur’aan in a normal tone without the need to beautify the voice or soften it.❞

[Liqaa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh (14/12)]

۝۝

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen said:

❝The voice of the woman is not Haraam to listen and it is not an `Awrah (i.e. something which should be concealed). But if she softens her voice and beautifies it, and speaks in a manner which would create Fitnah (and flare desires in men), then such a way of talking is prohibited. As Allaah تعالى said:

{…be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner}

Allaah تعالى did not say: “Do not speak to men at all”, but rather He تعالى said: “Do not be soft in speech.” The limit is on softening the speech, and not the speech itself.

So, the woman’s conversation with a man is allowed as long as it does not lead to Fitnah. During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, women used to speak to him while other people would be listening to her conversation and he ﷺ would also reply to her. There is no problem in that. But such conversations should not take place in seclusion (over the phone or in private messages) except in the presence of her Mahram (or guardian) and when there is no fear of temptations.❞

[مجموعة أسئلة تهم الأسرة المسلمة (1/37)]]

۩۩۩۩۩