Testing Aalimah girls without a partition

Question:-

Is it allowed for a male to teach or test Aalimah students without a partition?

What should we say to Aalims who say that it is permissible to do so, due to a ‘difference of opinion?’ Some even cite texts from Hanafi books such as Qudoori, or from Imaam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah.

Answer:- 

It is not permissible for males to be interacting with Aalimah students without a partition. They should study the Fataawa Kitaabs of our Akaabireen such as Ahsanul Fataawa and others, who have listed a number of conditions that should be fulfilled for males to conduct a ladies programme. These current day scholars that state that there is no need to observe proper Purdah (by having a partition in place) are ignorant, and are in fact, acting upon their Haraam desires to attain enjoyment from these young girls. In order to prove their impermissible practices, they misinterpret the texts of the Fuqaha hence, there is no benefit in arguing and debating with such ignorant scholars. The Muslim public should be made aware of their practices and girls should not be sent to these institutes. They should rather be educated at home or at the residence of some learned female in the locality with the proviso that, the following conditions are fulfilled.

Mufti Rasheed Saheb Rahimahullah has listed the following conditions in Ahsanul Fataawa for a woman that intends attending an Islamic institute specifically for ladies Taleem (or even at a home venue):

1. The educators should be strictly female. It is not permissible to study under a Na-Mahram male.
2. The educators must possess expertise in the daily Masaa’il of Deen.
3. They must act upon their Deeni knowledge and should be concerned of making their students do the same. The female educators should refrain from Bid’aat, evil and indecency which has entered our society, and they should be concerned of saving others as well. Some of these evils are not observing proper Purdah, taking of pictures, television, Gheebat etc.
4. The syllabus should encompass all such Masaa’il of Deen that relate to a woman’s day to day life. In other words, she (the educator) should create a concern of the hereafter. Studying the syllabus that renders one as an Aalimah should be discarded and it is necessary to correct those that study with the intention of attaining such titles.
5. Some Mahram must accompany her to Madrasah, and she should return with a Mahram.

In the girl’s Madrasahs nowadays, these conditions are missing. Further details can be checked in Ahsanul Fataawa.

With regard to attending the Majlis of a Aalim, there are various conditions that should be met as well.

1. The Ulema of current times should have confidence in his knowledge, Taqwa and methodology of making Islaah.
2. The Aalim must emphasize on abstaining from all forms of evil and indecency which has entered our societies.
3. The concern of improving oneself as a Muslim and propagating the same, should be created in his lecture, and the evil practices which have become common, should be discarded.
4. There should be strict adherence to Purdah with proper Purdah facilities.
5. Women should not wear attractive clothing or jewellery, nor should they beautify themselves (with make-up or otherwise) or apply perfume when attending such lectures.
6. The woman should wear the same clothing for at least a month. She should not wear a new or different outfit for every gathering.
7. The women should be seated so far from the men that the voice of the speaker only reaches via a microphone. If this is not possible, then the women should sit at the furthest spot possible (away from the men).
8. The gathering should not take place more than once a week. There are many proofs that indicate that restricting the gathering to once a week is most suitable.

[Re:- Ahsanul Fataawa Pg.59 – 61 Vol.8]

   ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 22 Jumadal Ula 1444 / 17 December 2022