Q: “What is the ruling on a woman riding with a driver or taking public transportation by herself?”
Shaikh al-Albaani:
“If there is mixing with men then the ruling is clear: it’s not allowed. But if: 1) there is no mixing, 2) the woman is safe and won’t be abducted as occurs in some places, 3) there is no travelling involved – then it is allowed, otherwise no.”
Q: “What about riding in a taxi by herself with a driver?”
Shaikh al-Albaani:
“If the driver is known (to be trustworthy) and religious, and they are in the middle of the city, there is no objection.”
Q: “This isn’t khalwah (the prohibited seclusion between a man and a woman), right?”
Shaikh al-Albaani:
“No, it’s not khalwah.”[1]
[1] “khalwah in terms of the Legislation is only when the place (where the man and woman are secluded together) is screened such that those outside cannot see what is happening inside” - Shaikh al-Albaani, fataawaa jeddah 24/16
[silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor 565/8 / asaheeha translations]
Filed under: on khalwah, on women's issues, transportation Tagged: albani, alone, islam, khalwah, muslim, public, salaf, seclusion, sunnah, taxi, transportation, women
