A woman does not act as a mahram for another woman

Question:

Can a woman be considered a mahram for a woman she is not related to for purposes of traveling or sitting with others?

Response:

A woman cannot be a mahram for another.

The one who is considered mahram is a man that a woman cannot marry due to blood relations, such as her father and her brother, or a man related to her due to marriage, such as her husband, her father-in-law and her step-son, or a man related due to breast feeding, such as her father from breast feeding and so forth.

It is not allowed for a man to be in private with a woman he is not related to nor can he travel with her.

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said,

((A woman does not travel except with a mahram.))

This was recorded by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) also said,

((A man is never alone with a woman except that Satan is the third.))

This was recorded by Imam Ahmad and others from the Hadeeth of ‘Umar with a saheeh chain.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Fataawa al-Mar.ah

Source

An young child below the age of puberty can’t be mahram for his mother

The pre-conditions of a mahram

Question:

Is it possible for my son who is nine years of age to be my mahram, since i travelled with him; Is there anything wrong in that?

Response:

Regarding the mahram, the Scholars have mentioned that two conditions must be met:

1) The coming of age (puberty);
2) Mental awareness.

So, whoever has not yet attained puberty then it is not correct for him to be a mahram; and whoever is not yet mentally aware then it is not correct for him to be a mahram since the intent behind the (presence of a) mahram is protection of the wife and maintaining her and preventing any attack upon her. (Clearly) the young child is unable to undertake any of these (roles).

So I say, now the woman – as per the question – has reached her destination, so she is not to return to her husband until he comes and collects her and takes her (back) with him. Alternatively, she can travel with one of her mahrams (father, brother, etc.) – from amongst those who have attained puberty and are mentally aware. As for the young child who is nine years of age, then he cannot be her mahram.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
I’laam al-Mu’aasireen bi-Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen – Page 369

Youngest age a male can be a Mahram

Question: What is the youngest age a male can be a mahram for a woman if she wanted to travel?

Response: The youngest age at which a male can become a mahram for a woman is the coming of age; And that (occurs after) the completion of 15 years (of age) or seminal discharge with desire or the growth of hair around the pubic region.

And when (any) of these three signs are present, then he becomes religiously responsible, and it is permissible for him to be a mahram for a woman. And likewise with the presence of (any) one of the three (signs) a woman becomes religiously responsible; And the woman has another sign and that is the (coming on of the) menses.

And Allaah is the Expounder of all success.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah – Volume 16, Page 382

Al-Hamu (The in-laws of the wife) is death itself

Q 5: In some families the brothers’ wives uncover their faces in the presence of their brothers-in-law. When I advise them, they say they are brothers and do not want to be separated from each other. What is your opinion in this regard?

A: It is not permissible for women to uncover their faces in the presence of their brothers-in-law because they are not Mahrams for them; they are in-laws.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about Al-Hamu (the in-laws of the wife – the brothers of her husband or his nephews etc.).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: Al-Hamu is death itself.

That is, the bad consequences of uncovering their faces in the presence of them are more harmful because it is treated leniently.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member     Member     Member     Member     Deputy Chairman     Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd     `Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh     Salih Al-Fawzan     `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan     `Abdul-Razzaq `Afify     `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Fatwas of Permanent Committee

Browse by Volume Number > Group 1 > Volume 17: Hijab and Adornment > Women’s Hijab and Dress > Rulings related to the brother-in-law > The brother-in-law as not a Mahram

A woman invalidating a woman’s prayer

Source:  Silsilat ul-Hudaa wan Noor – The Series of Guidance and Light – Tape no. 93

Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) answers an important question pertaining to one of the circumstances that invalidates a woman’s prayer:

“Yes, the woman invalidates the prayer of (another) woman [if she passes in front of her] – by the mentioned condition in some of the established narrations – if she has reached puberty.

And there is no difference in islamically legislated rulings between men and women except that which occurs in text excluding the women from the men, and there is no [such] text here. Rather the text is general: The prayer of one of you invalidates if the woman [who has reached puberty], the donkey and the black dog passes in front of him, if there is not [a sutra] the likes of the rear part of the camel’s saddle in front of him. So there is no difference in the ruling.”

~

Taken from salafitalk.net : A Series of Benefits from Shaykh al-Albaani

What parts of her body can a Muslim woman reveal in front of other women?

The Awrah of a muslim woman to other muslim women,   Shaikk Salih ibn Fawzaan
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/downloads/pdf/FQH020003.pdf

Ruling on women delaying the ‘Isha’ Prayer until twelve at night

Q 33: Is it permissible for women to pray the ‘Isha’ (night) Prayer after twelve o’clock at night? Is it disliked to perform it at eleven thirty, for instance ?

A: The time of ‘Isha’ Prayer extends until midnight. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The time of ‘Isha’ Prayer extends until midnight. It is impermissible for women to delay the ‘Isha’ Prayer until midnight.

The length of the night varies, so if there are nine hours of night, for instance, then half of this is four hours and half, according to the time of sunset. If it is twelve hours, according to the time of sunset, then its half will be six hours and a half. After this that, it is not permissible for the sick or women to delay it until midnight.

As for men who are not ill, they are to pray with the people in the Masjid (mosque).However, if a man prays at home due to illness, he should pray before midnight and the same applies to the woman.

Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb

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Ruling on women uncovering their hands and feet in Salah

Q: Your Eminence, once we heard you mention that a woman who offers Salah with her hands and feet uncovered must repeat the whole Salah. Please clarify this matter for us, knowing that we are practicing Muslims abiding by Shari`ah (Islamic law). Since we have heard this ruling, my wife has been covering her feet and hands during Salah.

A: Scholars (may Allah be merciful to them) stated that a woman’s entire body is `Awrah, and thus she has to cover it all in Salah except the face. This is based on what was reported in the Hadiths from Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) that state that all a woman’s body is `Awrah.

Scholars differed as to whether the hands should be covered or not. Regarding the feet,

Shaking hands with non-Muslim women

Q 10: What is the ruling on shaking hands with non-Muslim women? In the country where I live, it is the custom to treat men and women equally in everything.

A: It is not permissible for a man to shake hands with a woman, unless he is her Mahram (spouse or unmarriageable relative). The basis of this ruling is the fact that The hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never touched the hand of a (non-Mahram) woman.

It was authentically narrated in “Sahih Al-Bukhari”, “Musnad Ahmad”, and the “Sunan” of Al-Tirmidhy and Al-Nisa’y, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I do not shake hands with women.” This is the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who sets the best example for his Ummah (nation based on one creed). Allah (Exalted be He) says: Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day (Surah Al-‘Ahzab, 33:21)

Muslims should act upon the teachings that the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought and Allah has enjoined following, saying: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). One of the things that the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught was not to shake hands with women, and the basic principle regarding his sayings, deeds, and approvals is that they constitute the code of laws for the Muslim Ummah (nation based on one creed) unless there is an evidence for ruling out of this principle. We know of no such evidence in this case. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member     Member     Deputy Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Sulayman Ibn Mani`     `Abdullah ibn `Abdul-Rahman ibn Ghudayyan     `Abdul-Razzaq `Afify

Fatwas of Permanent Committee

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Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?

[Q.2] Is it permissible for women to wear high-heeled shoes?

[A.2] This is not permissible.

It involves resembling the disbelieving women, or the wicked women.

It has its origins amongst the Jewish women before Islaam.  When one of them wanted to attend a gathering where her lover was present, she would wear a pair of high shoes for him to see her, being taller.  Then after a time, those became high-heeled shoes.

Further, that type of shoe changes a woman’s way of walking, causing her to tilt from left to right, and therefore, the wicked and unbelievers choose this type of shoe.  Therefore, a Muslim woman following the Sharee’ah (Islaamic Law) should not wear high-heeled shoes; especially since many times it causes her to fall!

Source : Fataawaa for Sisters: Prayer, Wine and high-heeled Shoes - by Shaik Nasiruddin Albanee

Is there any difference between men and women with regard to the actions of Salah (Prayer)

Demonstrating that men and women are on an equal footing with regard to Salah

Q: Is there any difference between men and women with regard to the actions of Salah (Prayer) likeraising hands to the ears and putting them over the chest?

A: The correct opinion maintains that the way in which women perform Salah is the same as that of men, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Perform Salah as you see me perform it. and he (peace be upon him) made no exclusions for women. So men and women are equally addressed with the prescribed actions of Salah such as raising the hands, putting them over the chest, putting them on the knees when bowing down, and resting them on the ground opposite the shoulders or ears in Sujud (prostration). Similarly, they both have to recite Al-Fatihah (Opening Chapter of the Qur’an) and some verses of the Qur’an in both the first and second Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) of Zhuhr (Noon), `Asr (Afternoon), Maghrib (Sunset), `Isha’ (Night) and Fajr (Dawn) Prayers. Yet, only Al-Fatihah is to be recited in the third Rak`ah of Maghrib Prayer, and the third and fourth of Zhuhr, `Asr and `Isha’ Prayers. So women are on an equal footing with men in this regard.

Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb>Volume 9>Book of Salah>Completion of the chapter on the description of Salah>Demonstrating that men and women are on an equal footing with regard to Salah

Source : alifta.com