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We have the good example of Prophet Moses speaking to the two young ladies who were total strangers to him, inquiring about their situation and offering help.
In Islamic society men and women may inquire after one another when they meet, whether such a meeting is accidental or planned. In the story mentioned in the Qur’an about the journey of Prophet Moses (Pbuh) from Egypt and his arrival in Madyan, we are told that as he arrived there, he reached the water source where shepherds take their animals to drink. The Qur’anic account includes the following: “When he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of people drawing water (for their herds and flocks), and at some distance from them he found two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked them: ‘What is the matter with you two?’ They said: ‘We cannot water (our animals) until the herdsmen drive home. Our father is a very old man.’ So he watered their flock for them, and then he withdrew into the shade and prayed: ‘My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.’” (28: 23-24)
We may also quote here the authentic Hadith that says: “The Prophet (Pbuh) established a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Al-Dardaa. Once Salman went to visit Abu Al-Dardaa and saw his wife wearing plain clothes. He asked her the reason and she told him: ‘Your brother, Abu al-Dardaa, does not care for anything in this life.’” (Related by Al-Bukahri)
So we see the Prophet Moses speaking to the two young ladies who were total strangers to him, inquiring about their situation and offering help. Although this occurred before he became a prophet, had there been anything wrong or unacceptable in this situation, God would have pointed it in the Qur’anic account. It may also be said that this might have been acceptable prior to Islam, while Islamic legislation abrogated what came before it. All scholars agree that all divine laws that operated before Islam apply to Muslims unless they are specifically changed by new laws in the Qur’an or the Sunnah. There is nothing in the Qur’an or the Hadith to suggest that Muslims should refrain from doing like Prophet Moses did on this occasion. Inquiring about a situation a woman finds herself in, and offering help in a decent manner, are perfectly legitimate and recommended actions.
This is also indicated in the Hadith we have already quoted. Ibn Hajar says about this Hadith: “It includes several points such as the commendable practices of establishing a bond of brotherhood dedicated to God’s service, visiting friends and brothers, speaking to a woman who is unrelated to us, inquiring about something in order to correct a wrong situation, even though it is apparently of no direct concern to the person making the inquiry.”
We may add here that the Prophet has taught us to offer the Islamic greeting of peace to anyone we meet, whether they are known to us or are total strangers. From such texts as we have quoted, we learn that such greetings should be accompanied by inquiring after other people, particularly when we see something that may call for our help.
Men and women may also meet when a man goes home to find that some women are visiting his wife. Umm Salamah, the Prophet’s wife, reports: “I once heard the Prophet advising against offering voluntary prayers after one has offered the obligatory prayer of Asr. I later saw him offering two rak’ahs after he had prayed Asr. He then entered my home when I had some women from the Haram clan of the Ansar visiting me...” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
What is relevant to our discussion in this Hadith is the part we have quoted, which mentions that the Prophet went in when his wife, Umm Salamah, was entertaining her women visitors. This means that it is perfectly legitimate for a Muslim woman to visit a woman friend when her husband is at home. The Hadith continues to mention that Umm Salamah asked the Prophet about his voluntary prayer after Asr when he had spoken against them. He explained that on that particular occasion, he was offering two rak’ahs in lieu of those he habitually offered after Zuhr, but could not do so on that particular day.
Focusing on the same point of men and women meeting together on social visits and speaking to each other, we may quote the following Hadiths:
Lady Ayesha reports: “The Prophet came into my home when I had a Jewish woman visiting me. The woman said to me: ‘Do you realize that you will be tested when you are in your graves?’ The Prophet was disturbed. He said: ‘Only the Jews will be tested.’ A few days later, the Prophet said to me: ‘Do you realize that it has been revealed to me that you will be tested in the graves?’ After that, I heard the Prophet often appealing to God for protection against torment in the grave.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari reports: “...Asma bint Umays, who came with us, went to visit Hafsah, the Prophet’s wife. Asma had been among those who had immigrated to Abyssinia . Umar came in to see Hafsah, his daughter, when Asma was with her. He asked who she was and Hafsah answered: ‘She is Asma bint Umays.’ He said: ‘Is this the Abyssinian woman? Is this the woman who traveled by sea?’ Asma answered in the affirmative...” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Abdullah ibn Amr reports: “A group from the clan of Hashim went to see Asma bint Umays. Then Abu Bakr, her husband, came in and saw them. He did not like that and mentioned the fact to the Prophet, adding however: ‘I have seen nothing untoward.’ The Prophet said: ‘God has preserved her from anything like that.’ The Prophet then stood on the pulpit and said: ‘Let no man enter the home of a woman who is on her own unless he is accompanied by at least another man.’” (Related by Muslim)
Qays ibn Hazim reports: “Abu Bakr went into the place of a woman from the tribe of Ahmas, called Zaynab bint Al-Muhajir. He noticed that she did not say a word. He asked why she did not speak. They told him that she had vowed to offer the pilgrimage keeping silent and saying not a word. He said to her: ‘Speak. This is unlawful to you. This is a practice that belongs to the days of ignorance.’ She spoke and asked him who he was. He said: ‘I am a man from the Muhajirin.’ She asked: ‘Of which Muhajirin?’ He said: ‘From the Quraysh.’ She again asked: ‘From which of the Quraysh clans?’ He said: ‘You are certainly inquisitive. I am Abu Bakr.’ She asked him: ‘How long will we continue to follow this good path shown to us by God Almighty after we had been in ignorance?’ He said: ‘You will continue to follow it, as long as your leaders remain faithful to it.’ She said: ‘Who are the leaders?’ He said: ‘Were there not among your people some notable persons who would be obeyed when they gave orders?’ She answered in the affirmative. He told her that those were the leaders.” (Related by Al-Bukahri).
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