http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=93138&d=8&m=3&y=2007&pix=islam.jpg&category=Islam
Monday, 5, March, 2007 (15, Safar, 1428)
Women in Islamic Society - 12: Insisting on Propriety, Decency
Dr. Abd Al-Haleem Abu Shuqqah
It is often thought that Muslim society segregates men and
women, not allowing them to mix even in a small measure. This is not true.
Muslim society is a mixed one, but it has values of decency and propriety that
need to be observed. It also provides simple measures that allow these values
to be easily and smoothly maintained. It is important, for example, to allow
men and women to move separately in congested areas, but there is nothing to
prevent them from being together in ample space. Thus, they attend together in
the mosque, but their exit should be organized to avoid congestion.
Umm Salamah, one of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon
him), reports: "When God's Messenger finished his prayers with Salam, the women
would leave straightaway but he stayed a little while longer before he left."
(Related by Al-Bukhari.) Ibn Shihab, an early scholar of high standing,
comments: "I think that he stayed on to allow women to leave before men who
also wished to leave early caught up with them." This is, then, a matter of
organization when exiting the mosque. It is well known that exits at public
places are often very congested at the end of a function. By staying on a few
minutes, the Prophet (peace be upon him) allowed women to leave comfortably
before men left.
This is confirmed by the Prophet's suggestion to his
companions: "Perhaps we should leave this door for women..." This was certainly
to make their movement easier. On one occasion, the Prophet left the mosque and
soon men and women were walking together in the middle of the road. The Prophet
said to women: "Move to the side. It is not proper for you to walk in the
middle. Keep to either side." Again, this was a simple measure to ensure that
decency is maintained.
Similarly, congestion should be avoided in public places, but
this does not mean that women should always be in the back, as it is the case
in mosque. Keeping women in the back is a special case that applies to prayer
only, whether prayer is performed in the mosque or at home, with strangers or
with husbands and close relatives. On all occasions, other than prayers,
Islamic values of propriety require separate seating and avoidance of
congestion. This may be done by allocating a separate area within the meeting
place for women, or by adopting any arrangement that ensures no overcrowding.
What we are talking about here is that men and women should not be too close
physically. It is in reference to this that Imam Al-Sarakhsi, a leading Hanafi
scholar, says: "A woman should not try to kiss the Black Stone (when doing the
tawaf in the Kaaba) if there are several people around it. She is required not
to be too close to men and crowd with them. She kisses the Black Stone only if
she finds the place clear."
Another important aspect of Islamic propriety is the
prevention of one man being alone with one woman in an enclosed place. The
Prophet says: "Let no man be alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a
mahram, i.e. a close relative." (Related by Al-Bukhari.) Ibn Hajar, an
authoritative commentator on Hadith, says: "This indicates that being alone
with a stranger woman is forbidden. This is unanimously agreed by scholars.
However, they differ as to whether a mahram could be replaced by others who
ensure that the purpose is met, such as the presence of other reliable women.
This is allowed because suspicion does not arise in this case. The following
situations do not come under the prohibited one-to-one meeting:
1. A meeting when other people are present. Under the heading
'permissibility of a man meeting a woman with people around', Al-Bukhari
relates: "Anas ibn Malik reported that a woman from the Ansar came to the
Prophet and he met her alone. He said to her, 'By God, you, (the Ansar), are
the dearest people to me.'" (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.) Commenting on
this Hadith Ibn Hajar says: "Such one-to-one meeting should not be conducted in
a way where they are physically unseen by others, or their conversation is
unheard, as happens when a woman is saying something that she would be too shy
to say in public." He also says that the Hadith makes clear that speaking
privately to a woman is not incompatible with Islam when both are safe from
allurement.
2. A meeting of two or three men with one woman, when
necessary. The supporting evidence is given in the Hadith that quotes the
Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: "As from today, let not a man enter the
home of a woman whose husband is absent, unless accompanied by one or two men."
(Related by Muslim.) Imam Al-Nawawi, who wrote a commentary on Muslim's
anthology of authentic Hadiths, says: "At face value, this Hadith allows two or
three men to be alone with a woman unrelated to them, but scholars of our
Shafie school agree that this is prohibited. Therefore, the Hadith should be
interpreted as meaning a group of honorable and God-fearing men who would never
agree to indecency."
A meeting of one man with a group of women. The prohibited
meeting is that of one man with one woman. When there are more men or women,
the prohibition is removed. Al-Nawawi says: "Should a man visit a woman and is
alone with her, this is prohibited for both of them. If he visits a group of
women unrelated to him, the majority of scholars agree that this is
permissible. The evidence is clear in the Hadith that says: 'As from today, let
not a man enter the home of a woman whose husband is absent, unless accompanied
by one or two men.' Moreover, when there is a group of women, a man cannot
tempt one of them to join him in doing something indecent."
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Great things are happening at Yahoo! Groups. See the new email design.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/lOt0.A/hOaOAA/yQLSAA/uTGrlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
