Fatwa ID: 01963

Answered by Molana Ishaaq Hussain

Question:

assalam o alaikum  sir, my question is about teaching girls.  Can a teacher teach a female in class or private tuition class.. And can we study with girls side by side in one class.. Is this permissible in Islam… please elaborate with proofs…

Answer:

Your question can be put into 3 parts:

1. What does shariah say regarding teaching females?
2. What is the ruling of boys and girls sitting next to each other
3. What is the ruling of private classes/tuitions for girls?

Answer 1:

As long as there is a veil between the female students and the male teacher it will be permissible. If this is the case that the male can see the females or the females can see the male then it will be impermissible. However, this should only be implemented as a last resort. If suitable female teachers are available then they should be given preference. (Tuhfatul Qari p386 v1)

Allah says “…When you ask them (the wives of The Prophet) for anything then ask from behind a screen. This is a means for greater purity for your hearts and their hearts…” (Al-Ahzab, 33)

Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Qurtubi states: “This verse indicates the permissibility to ask and communicate with the wives of The Prophet   from behind a screen or a curtain. All Muslim women would be bound by the same regulation. (Tafseer –e- Qurtubi, Vol14, P201)

 A woman should avoid showing her face amongst men not because her face is part of the body which is impermissible to show (awrah), but rather because of the fear of mischief or wrongdoing. (Durr e Mukhtar p79 v2)

Umme Salamah narrates that once she and Maymoonah was in the company of the holy Prophet when suddenly Abdullah Ibn Maktoom , the companion Of the Holy prophet who was blind, came in, and the holy Prophet asked them to go inside. Umme Salamah pleaded ‘O prophet Of Allah is he not blind’ (he can’t see us). Then the Prophet replied: ‘is it that you are blind too’ in other words you are not blind, you can see him. (Mishkaat Masaabeeh p269 v2, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)

Answer 2:

When a child Reaches the age of puberty or just before puberty, in other words when desires start to indulge in him or her, then the jurists have mentioned that this is when he/she must be separated from the opposite gender. If they sleep in one bed with their sisters etc then separate bedding should be provided from them. (Ahsanul Fatawah p37 v8)

With regards to sitting next to non-mahram women, this is impermissible. This point of ‘sitting next to the opposite gender’ comes under the category of free mixing etc which Islam does not allow at all. At all times purdah/ veil from the opposite gender should always be observed.

Answer3.

Sayiduna Umar  narrates that the prophet said: “Whenever a man spends time with a stranger woman alone, then along with them the third of them is shaytaan” (Tirmidhi, Mishkaat p269 v2)

It means that when a man and woman (who are not each others mahram) are alone, then Shaytaan is the third amongst them. He puts evil thoughts into their minds, corrupts their hearts and encourages them to commit sin. (Mazaahirul Haq Jadeed p261 v3)

With regards to private tutoring girls, this will be impermissible due to what is mentioned in the Hadeeth. If female students feel that they need private tuitions, then this can also be achieved by the aid of female teachers. Hence for non-mahram men to be there private tutors will be impermissible. (Ahsanul Fatawa p37-38 v8, Tuhfatul Qari p386 v1)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Molana Ishaaq Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.