Behaviour with ghair mahram relatives

CategoriesWomen's Issues [292]

Can I ask about the ruling in regard to how women should behave around ghair mahram relatives?
In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful

  Answer

Allah states in the Quran: “Stay in your homes and do not display your finery as women used to do in the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic days)…” (Surah Al Ahzab: 33)
Allah states further: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers, that they should draw their outer garment (Jilbab) over their persons. That is more proper, so that they may be recognized and not be bothered.  And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Surah al-Ahzab, 59)
Abdullah ibn Masud narrates that the Prophet (sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “A woman is supposed to be concealed, for when she goes out (without covering herself properly), Shaytan looks at her.” (Tirmidhi: 928)
It is clear from the above that a female should stay in and only when the need arises to go out (in front of ghair mahram men) that she should come out. Before coming out she should cover herself according to the teachings of Islam and should not be alone in the presence of a ghair mahram as Umar ibn Al Khattab narrates that the Prophet (sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whenever a man is alone with a women the devil makes a third.” (Thirmidhi: 930).

Only Allah knows best.

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta, Birmingham

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