Tuesday, 26 May 2026 (10 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1447 AH)
Question: How was the life of the woman in the society of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace) and the Companions? And did she mix with men? And what are the limits of this mixing? And why did Abu Bakr and ‘Umar visit Fatimah (Peace be Upon Her) before her death—so is this permissible, or recommended, or specific? And is speaking, walking, and the companionship of the woman with men without a mahram within the mile permissible?
All of that is because of what I have read of the words of the wives of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace) to the Muslims, and the companionship of women in journeys and in battles and giving drink to the wounded, and in the emigration where Zayd ibn Harithah—as I suppose—emigrated with the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace), and likewise Umm Salamah emigrated without a mahram, and other than that of virtuous women who studied and taught knowledge, and other than that of the stories of history in which there is that the society was mixed—without display of adornment and without obscenity; so what is your view, may Allah preserve you?
The answer: The Muslim woman, after the descending of the command to her to lower the gaze, and the command to men to lower it, and His command to her to cover her adornment and her beauties, and to cover her voice—until she was forbidden from striking with her foot so that the sounds of her hidden adornment are not heard… etc.—was adhering to what Allah, Exalted is He, commanded her with.
And there is no objection, along with that, to her leaving her house for need, with her adhering to what she was commanded with of lowering the gaze, and covering adornment, and leaving crowding men, and leaving being at ease with men in speech, and to not be left alone with men.
And women used to attend the ‘Eid prayer with the men, but on a side of the prayer-place.
And there is no harm that the woman speak to the man regarding her need, if that is not accompanied by being at ease in speech, and softness in wording, and uncovering adornment, and (while maintaining) to not be left alone with men; and upon this the woman used to speak to the Prophet (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace), and she used to speak to the man in the era of the Prophet (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace).
- And likewise, Fatimah (Peace be Upon Her) spoke to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and upon that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar spoke to her.
- And their visit to her was for a need, and ‘Ali (Peace be Upon Him) was with them; and their need was that they seek her satisfaction regarding them, and that she leave her and he got angry upon them; and she only went to them because of her need to speak with them, and if not for what we mentioned of the need, it would not have been allowed for Abu Bakr and ‘Umar to visit her, and it would not have been allowed for her to go to them.
- And there is no objection that the woman accompanies men within the mile, with her adherence to what Allah, Exalted is He, commanded her with, and with the men’s adherence to what they were commanded with in this matter; and it is not permissible for her to accompany a single man within the mile.
- And there is no harm, in necessity, that the woman travels with trustworthy men without a mahram, but on the condition that she be safe, regarding herself, from temptation; and that is like the travel of emigration.
- And likewise, there is no harm upon the woman who is adhering to what Allah, Exalted is He, commanded, that she be in the rear of the army to give drink to the thirsty and to treat his wound, and the like of that.
- And likewise, there is no objection to the woman studying knowledge and teaching it, with her adherence to what she was commanded with.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.3