Single Mother and Her Son's Male Teacher

16-6-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would like to seek advice from Islamic view. I am a single mother with a eight years old son. Recently, I enrolled my son in a religious class. Al-Hamdu Lillah, my son met a teacher who is caring and a good role model for him. My son really adores the teacher. Sometimes my son’s teacher will visit him at home and take him out. My questions: 1) Can I allow him to come to my home with or without my presence?2) I understand from the teacher that his mother will “freak out” if she knows about his visits to my home.3) Should I allow him to tell a lie to his mum (I am a mother myself).4) My son requests the teacher to accompany him for a school vacation. Can we go together?5) I am 35 years old and the teacher is 28 years old. I would appreciate your soonest reply. This is really bothering me!

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.

You should not allow that teacher to come in your house unless there is another old person other than a child since staying alone with a non-Mahram man is not permissible. The existence of a child does not change this ruling. Imam An-Nawawi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “It is forbidden for a man to be in seclusion with a non-Mahram woman according to the agreement of Muslim scholars. The same ruling applies if there is one from whom they do not feel shame.

If by “to accompany him for a school vacation” you mean to travel with him, then it is strictly forbidden since a woman is not permitted to travel alone without being accompanied by a Mahram who can protect her and take care of her.

The reason for this prohibition is that it leads to many evils such as being alone with a non-Mahram man, looking at him, mixing with him etc.; all these matters are forbidden in the Sharee'ah. There are many Ahadeeth prohibiting a woman from traveling without being accompanied by a Mahram. Ibn ‘Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “No woman should travel a distance of three days unless her Mahram is with her.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “It is not permissible for a woman to travel a day and night journey except if a Mahram is with her.

Many scholars stipulate such a condition in the journey for Hajj and ‘Umrah; so such a ruling, with greater reason, should be applied to a picnic trip.

For more benefit on the prohibition for a woman to travel without a Mahram, please refer to Fataawa 262621, 88562, 193077, 102095, and 85945.

Allah knows best.

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