Fatwa ID: 07308

Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Question:

I’m confused as to what is a necessity when dealing with the opposite gender. I used to have a friend of opposite gender who I tutored. After finding out the rulings of having a friend, I cut her off, and she also understood but she wants me to tutor her again professionally.

I also study under her mother and the teacher is also asking me to do so.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is permissible to interact with the opposite gender as long as the interaction is professional. However, it is important to ensure that two people of the opposite gender are never in a place alone, including text messages or online chatting. Furthermore, if there is any fear of temptation, interaction should be avoided.

In the situation mentioned above, you may tutor the girl as long as you don’t have any fear of developing feelings for her or wanting to go back to being friends. Being friends with the opposite gender isn’t allowed in Islam, and interactions should be purely professional. If you do decide to teach her, make sure your classes aren’t in a private area with only the two of you, and that your interactions are public. If necessary, her mother can be included in a group chat with the two of you.

حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي ١/‏٤٠٦

ثم نقل عن خط العلامة المقدسي: ذكر الإمام أبو العباس القرطبي في كتابه في السماع: ولا يظن من لا فطنة عنده أنا إذا قلنا صوت المرأة عورة أنا نريد بذلك كلامها، لأن ذلك ليس بصحيح، فإذا نجيز الكلام مع النساء للأجانب ومحاورتهن عند الحاجة إلى ذلك، ولا نجيز لهن رفع أصواتهن ولا تمطيطها ولا تليينها وتقطيعها لما في ذلك من استمالة الرجال إليهن وتحريك الشهوات منهم

البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري ١/‏٢٨٥

لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ لَيْسَ بِصَحِيحٍ فَإِنَّا نُجِيزُ الْكَلَامَ مَعَ النِّسَاءِ الْأَجَانِبِ وَمُحَاوَرَتِهِنَّ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ إلَى ذَلِكَ وَلَا نُجِيزُ لَهُنَّ رَفْعَ أَصْوَاتِهِنَّ وَلَا تَمْطِيطَهَا وَلَا تَلْيِينَهَا وَتَقْطِيعَهَا لِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ اسْتِمَالَةِ الرِّجَالِ إلَيْهِنَّ وَتَحْرِيكِ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنْهُمْ وَمِنْ هَذَا لَمْ يَجُزْ أَنْ تُؤَذِّنَ الْمَرْأَةُ. اهـ.

وَهَذَا يُفِيدُ أَنَّ الْعَوْرَةَ رَفْعُ الصَّوْتِ الَّذِي لَا يَخْلُو غَالِبًا عَنْ النَّغْمَةِ لَا مُطْلَقِ الْكَلَامِ فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ الْقِرَاءَةُ لَا تَخْلُو عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَحَبُّ إلَيَّ فَلْيُتَأَمَّلْ

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham