Download PDF: Women must Walk on the Side

Once, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, while leaving the Masjid, noticed that the men and women were walking together. He then addressed the females, “Remain at the back and do not walk in between.” When they heard his blessed command, such was their love and reverence for him that thereafter these females began to walk so close to the side of the road that sometimes their clothes actually began to get stuck on the walls (of houses they were passing). (Abu Daud)

 

Lesson

 

There is no doubt that the free mixing of men and women is nothing but a cause of immense fitnah. We can see this every day in our schools, colleges, malls, etc. There is free mixing in class rooms and lecture rooms.

 

This is one of the reasons that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah May Allah send peace and blessings upon him restricted this type of behaviour from the very beginning of Islam. Yet, sadly, this is not the case in the modern world. When people are informed about such un-Islamic behaviour, their only reply is that “we are being old fashioned”.

 

We ask them, if this is old fashioned, where are the successes for Islam which they can show in the modern world? The history of Islam and its great achievement can only be seen from these pages of these people whom you call “old fashioned”. Therefore, what has your modern living achieved for Islam?

 

Look at the immediate reaction of these blessed females in that when they heard this command, they immediately obeyed.

 

They understood the command of the Qur’an which appears in Surah Al Hashr, verse 7 which is:

مَاۤ اَفَآءَ اللہُ عَلٰی رَسُوۡلِہٖ مِنْ اَہۡلِ الْقُرٰی فَلِلّٰہِ وَ لِلرَّسُوۡلِ وَ لِذِی الْقُرْبٰی وَ الْیَتٰمٰی وَ الْمَسٰکِیۡنِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِیۡلِ ۙ کَیۡ لَا یَکُوۡنَ دُوۡلَۃًۢ بَیۡنَ الْاَغْنِیَآءِ مِنۡکُمْ ؕ وَمَاۤ اٰتٰىکُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ فَخُذُوۡہُ ۚ وَمَا نَہٰىکُمْ عَنْہُ فَانۡتَہُوۡا ۚ وَ اتَّقُوا اللہَ ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ شَدِیۡدُ الْعِقَابِ ۘ﴿۷﴾

Whatsoever spoils Allah gave to His Messenger from the people of the cities is for Allah and His Messenger and for the near relation, and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it be not the wealth of your rich. And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from that. And fear Allah; undoubtedly, the torment of Allah is severe.

 

In the present age, we should also be Muslims who endeavour to follow the pious Muslims of the past so that we can also save ourselves from the disgrace of the Hereafter.

 

If one has to educate one’s sisters, then one should adopt such a method of educating them which does not create fitnah and destroys the stability of this world.