Ruling of a Man Being in Seclusion with more than One Woman

31-7-2022 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu alaikum..my dear friends. Right now I'm living in kuwait as a employee. My company is not providing accommodation for us.so we have to find a room from out side. Now I'm living in a apartment where non mahram working women also living there. But I'm living in a separate room. They r also living in a different room. But I have doubt that the situation what I experience,is it OK with islam or not..sorry for my poor English..

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

There is a difference of opinion among the scholars on the ruling of a man being in seclusion with more than one woman.

The Shaafi'i School is of the view that it is forbidden for a man to be alone with more than one woman, unless he is a Mahram to one of them. The Hanafi School is of the view that the seclusion is negated with the presence of a trustworthy woman, and this indicates that it is permissible to be in seclusion with more than one woman.

The Hanbali School hold the view that it if forbidden for a man to be in seclusion with a number of women or vice versa.

The correct view is that it is permissible for many men to be alone with a woman if there is no temptation and no suspicion that they would agree on committing immorality with her [Zina –adultery or fornication]. Also it is permissible for a man to be in seclusion with many women if there is no corruption in general. If there is fear of corruption [i.e. an immoral conduct], then it is not permissible.

An-Nawawi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said:

The famous view is that it is permissible for a man to be alone with many women while there is no female Mahram to him among them because there is no corruption in general in this, as women are ashamed from each other (about doing an immorality in the presence of each other).” [End of quote]

The footnote of al-Jamal reads:

It is permissible for a man to be in seclusion with two trustworthy women about whom he is ashamed of; this is the adopted view.” [End of quote]

However, even though there is no forbidden seclusion, it may be that there is still forbidden mixing, especially if the facilities are shared, and so on.

Hence, in our view, it is better for you, in order to be safe in your religion and honor, to seek an accommodation that is free of temptation and its causes.

Allah knows best.

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