Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Prohibition of Meeting a non-Mahram Woman in Privacy

'Uqbah bin 'Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Avoid (entering a place) in which are women (uncovered or simply to mix with them in seclusion)." A man from the Ansar said, "Tell me about the brother of a woman's husband." He replied, "The brother of a woman's husband is death." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The hadith notifies the Muslims about a very important aspect with respect to veil. Many Muslims are unaware and negligent about it. It tells us that Muslim women should observe veil from real brothers, cousins, etc of her husband during their visits to the house in his presence or absence. Greater chances of mischief can occur if the husband is not at home.  For this reason the male relatives are regarded as death i.e. fatal to a woman from religious perspective.  The mischief (Fornication and adultary) that can probably occur between them has a fatal punishment i.e. Rajm (stoning to death). A male believer should be afraid of meeting such women in seclusion with whom any kind of contact is not permissible and is afraid of death. As for woman she should observe veil dutifully and be honest and loyal to her husband. She should also observe veil from husband’s male friends. Slackness in this matter is common nowadays and the evils that occur due to it come to our notice every day. Another hadith that strictly prohibits Muslims from meeting a non-Mahram woman in seclusion without her Mahram, in order to avoid the temptation to commit the sin of adultery is:

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "No one of you should meet a woman in privacy unless she is accompanied by a Mahram (i.e., a relative within the prohibited degrees)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The sanctity of the wives of Mujahidun (i.e., those who strive hard and fight in the way of Allah) for those who remain at home (i.e., those who do not go to the battlefield to fight Jihad) is like the sanctity of their own mothers. Anyone who remains behind to look after the family of a Mujahid and betrays his trust, will be made to stand on the Day of Resurrection before the Mujahid who will take away from his meritorious deeds whatever he likes till he is satisfied." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) turned toward us and said, "Now, what do you think (i.e., will he leave anything with him)?" [Muslim]

The fortification and supervision of the families of those Mujahidun who go to Jihad, is an act of high merit, and if someone violates the trust reposed in him, he will be committing a grave sin indeed. The hadith articulates that who will commit such a grave sin will be deprived of their virtuous deeds on the Day of Judgment.

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