Fatwa ID: 06564
Answered by: Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar
Question:
What is the ruling on seeing Non-Mahram Muslim and non-mahram non-muslim in the following situations:
- In actual life (e.g, at University, on the road, at supermarkets, etc)
- On television
- On photographs
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Your query relates to the different manners of intermixing or engaging with non-mahrams.
Regardless of face-to-face personal interactions or television/photographic interaction, the limits between marriageable men and women are clear: they should not be mixing with each other.
Firstly, to be mixing with non-mahrams face to face where one is in seclusion and on their own with a non-mahram without a third is forbidden.
Consider the following hadith:
‘Umar RA reported the Prophet SAW as saying, “Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third.” (1)
Hence, non-mahrams should not be freely mixed without caution. This must be a reminder when one is in a mixed environment such as a university where a larger body of people will prevent khalwa (isolation/seclusion) with the opposite sex.
Our interaction with the opposite sex should be minimal and of a formal nature, therefore, without any specific dire reason, there should be no interaction. If your beliefs are made clear, others will respect your boundaries.
Allah SWT has ordered the wives of the prophet SAW and women overall, saying:
“O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women, if you observe taqwā (righteousness). So, do not be too soft in your speech, lest someone having a disease in his heart should develop fancies (about you); and do speak with appropriate words.” (2)
Therefore, when the need arises, we should speak formally and limit the conversation to the need. No personal exchange is required.
Allah says in the Quran: “And tell the believing men to lower their gaze…” In the next verse, He says: “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze…” (3)
Whether they are before you or can be seen via video or photos, we must guard ourselves against wandering over others.
Guarding our gaze is a part of modesty and protects us from shaytan’s concoction.
The risk of shaytan intermingling between two non-mahrams is far too significant and for this reason, unless there is a genuine reason to interact, there should be no casual interaction. (4)
Therefore, unless there is a genuine reason to interact, regardless of the medium, you should not be looking at or talking to non-mahrams beyond necessity and instead should guard your gaze.
Only Allah knows the best
Written by Muftiyah Habiba Akhtar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1)
وَعَنْ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ إِلَّا كَانَ ثالثهما الشَّيْطَان» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ
Mishkat al-Masabih 3118
(وأما) حكم ما بعد الدخول وهو الخلوة فإن كان في البيت امرأة أجنبية أو ذات رحم غير مخرم لا يحل للرجل أن يخلو بها لأن فيه خوف الفتنة والوقوع في الحرام وقد روي عن رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – أنه قال «لا يخلون رجل بامرأة فإن ثالثهما الشيطان» وإن كانت المرأة ذات رجم محرم منه فلا بأس بالخلوة والأفضل أن لا يفعل لما روي عن عبد الله بن مسعود – رضي الله عنهما – أنه قال ما خلوت بامرأة قط مخافة أن أدخل في نهي النبي – عليه الصلاة والسلام -.
Badai Sanai, Vol 6, Page 502-503, DKI
(2)
يَـٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
Surah Ahzab, Verse 32
(3)
24:30
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
24:31
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
(4)
والخوف عند اجتماعهن أكثر، ولهذا حرمت الخلوة بالأجنبية، وإن كان معها امرأة أخرى
Bazlul Majhud, Vol 4, page 193-194, DKI
