Saturday, April 07, 2007

Workplace

Asalmualiukum Warahmatullahi Wabarakathhu,

I always try to strictly adhere to the shariah, despite my many weaknesses. May Allah subhantalh forgive me for my weaknesses and give all of us and me the strength to overcome our weaknesses. It’s indeed very sad to see the plight of Muslims in work places these days. The free intermingling with the opposite gender has made them oblivious of their duties as Muslims towards Allah Subhantalah. Joking, chatting, flirting with the opposite gender has become the order of the day; people take it so lightly and believe it’s only an extremist or a fanatic who would keep out of such ignorance. Why is it that we don’t understand the negative influences it could have on our lives? What about the rights of your beloved husband or wife that you neglect by indulging in these evil practices. No place is free from fitnah, especially the modern workplace. I sincerely pray to Allah subhnatalah to save us from such fitnah, as a working woman I do fear a lot falling into such fitnah as its so prevalent today. Allah subhnatalah has always blessed me with the courage to keep out of it, but I fear even I might have my share living with it. Please Allah give us the courage and the guidance to keep out of such evil practices. I quote below an article which will give some insight to my sisters out there as to how they should behave themselves with nonmahrams. Ya Allah pls forgive me if I ever crossed my boundaries even as much as an iota as it’s my weakness which led me into sin, Please grant us all the strength to be among the mutaqin. Ameen




Waliukum Salam Warhamatullahi Wabarakathhuh.

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&QR=1121

Limits and conditions within which a man may speak to a non-mahram woman

Question:My question is about the adab or the manner between a brother and sister? I need clarifcation, are we allowed to give salam to sister who is not your muhram or talk to her as you talk to a brother, and how much you allowed to talk? and what about the non-muhram who are cousine, for example the uncles daughter Am I allowed to give salam and talk to her, and how is her life?please provide for me daleel(proof) and what about marriage? what allowed talk and salam, ( what is allowed and not) all these things! because today people mixed between culture and deen, when you tell them about that they say you are bringing new religon!, even alot brothers who relgious don't know this, you may see salafy brother talking weetlgy to sister who were nikab and not his muhram,

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
In brief, what the fuqaha’ have said about women’s voices is that they are not ‘awrah in and of themselves, and there is nothing wrong with listening to them when there is a need to do so, so they do not forbid listening to them, but certain conditions apply, as follows:
The woman should speak without elongating the words, making her voice soft, or raising her voice. It is haraam for a man to listen with enjoyment, for fear of fitnah (temptation).
The decisive factor for knowing what is haraam in the matter of women’s speaking is what is included in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.” [al-Ahzaab 33:32]
What is forbidden is being too soft in speech. It is obligatory for women to speak in an honourable manner, which means, as the mufassireen explained, that they should not make their voices soft when addressing men. In conclusion, what is required of the Muslim woman when she speaks to a non-mahram man is that she should adhere to what is mentioned in this aayah. She should refrain from what is forbidden and should fulfil her duties. She should speak only when necessary, and only about matters that are permissible and honourable, not evil. Between a woman and a non-mahram man there should be no intonation, gestures, chat, joking, flirting or playful talk, so that there will be no room for provocation of desires and doubts. Women are not prevented from talking to non-mahram men when it is necessary to do so, such as dealing directly with them when buying things or conducting any other financial transaction, because in such cases it is necessary for both parties to speak. A woman may also ask a scholar about some legal Islamic matter, or a man may ask a woman such questions, as is proven in various texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Within the guidelines described above, there is nothing wrong with a woman speaking to a non-mahram man. It is also permissible for men to greet women with salaam and vice versa, according to the most correct opinion, but this greeting must be free of anything that may provoke desire in the person in whose heart is a disease, so as to be safe from fitnah and pay attention to the regulations outlined above.
If there is fear of fitnah being provoked by this greeting, then the woman should refrain from either initiating or returning the greeting, because warding off fitnah by neglecting the greeting is warding off mischief, and warding off mischief takes precedence over doing something useful. (See al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar’ah by ‘Abd al-Kareem Zaydaan, vol 3/276). And Allaah knows best.

1 comment:

abu.musa said...

Innal hamda lillah, Benefitial advice. Masha-Allah.

As mentioned in your post, Brothers tend to bend this rule of Allah much and take it too lightly. May Allah forgive us! The fitnah (trial) is too strong in dunya that it almost makes one feel like it is impossible to abide by the book of Allah and Sunnah of messenger of Allaah sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam. This in it self a fitnah and the aim of shaytan. As worldly needs increase, the fitnah too increases, and it is as responsibility increases too, as such rich over the poor, a ruler over a layman and with Allah lies knowledge and wisdom. This shareeah is most just. As you rightly said, we should all try to do our best and Allaah is the most just in judgment. And he helps the one that is sincere. Allah says in the Qur`an. “Indeed Allah does not do injustice even as much as a weight of an atom”
And in another verse “Allah wants to lighten for you, your difficulties, and mankind was created weak” (Surah an-Nisa [“The Women”])
May Allaah Azzawajal help us!