Chapter: The Prohibition of Seclusion with an Unrelated Woman
Allah the Exalted says, “And when you ask them for any article, ask them from behind a screen” (33:53).
1628 – ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Beware of entering upon women.” A man from the Anṣār asked, “Messenger of Allah, what about the in-law (al-ḥamw)?” He replied, “The in-law is death.” Agreed upon.
The term ḥamw refers to the husband’s close relatives, such as his brother, his brother’s son, or his cousin.
1629 – Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “None of you should be alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a maḥram.” Agreed upon.
1630 – Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The sanctity of the wives of those who are fighting in Allah’s cause, in relation to those who have stayed behind, is like the sanctity of their mothers. No man who remains behind and then betrays a combatant with regard to his family will be spared: on the Day of Resurrection he will be made to stand before that man, who will then take from his good deeds whatever he wishes until he is satisfied.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then turned to us and said, “What do you think (his fate will be)?” Narrated by Muslim.
[Commentary]
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) titles this chapter, “The Prohibition of Seclusion with an Unrelated Woman.” An unrelated woman is one with whom no permanent relationship of maḥramship exists—such as the daughter of your paternal uncle, the daughter of your paternal aunt, the daughter of your maternal aunt, and so forth, or any woman who is not from your kin. In this context, “unrelated” denotes every woman who is not a maḥram to you, and seclusion with her is forbidden. Whenever a man is alone with a woman, the third among them is Satan, so