Is it allowed for a man to teach a women’s only class? Some people say this is Haram.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind
Short Answer
Yes, it is permitted for a man to teach a women’s only class. Our blessed Prophet ﷺ did teach such a class. However, the relevant Shariah rulings must be observed. So, women must observe Hijab and seclusion (Khalwah) must be avoided.
Explanation
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الخُدْرِيِّ قَالَتِ النِّسَاءُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: غَلَبَنَا عَلَيْكَ الرِّجَالُ، فَاجْعَلْ لَنَا يَوْمًا مِنْ نَفْسِكَ، فَوَعَدَهُنَّ يَوْمًا لَقِيَهُنَّ فِيهِ، فَوَعَظَهُنَّ وَأَمَرَهُنَّ، فَكَانَ فِيمَا قَالَ لَهُنَّ: مَا مِنْكُنَّ امْرَأَةٌ تُقَدِّمُ ثَلاَثَةً مِنْ وَلَدِهَا، إِلَّا كَانَ لَهَا حِجَابًا مِنَ النَّارِ. فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ: وَاثْنَتَيْنِ؟ فَقَالَ: وَاثْنَتَيْنِ
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that some women said to the Prophet ﷺ: The men have overwhelmed us regarding yourself, so appoint for us a day from yourself. So he ﷺ promised them a day on which to meet them. He ﷺ exhorted them and commanded them. Amongst the ﷺ things he said to them was: No woman amongst you sends forth three of her children except that they are a barrier from the Hell fire for her. So a woman said, ‘And two?’ He ﷺ replied: And two. (Sahih al-Bukhari ,101).
The Hadith narration above demonstrates that it is permitted for a man to teach women. Undoubtedly, all relevant Shariah requirements must be observed. However, there is no absolute prohibition upon men teaching a group of women. This is contrary to the belief of some people, as they assume that such a class is sinful.
There can be great benefit for women in such a class because sometimes women struggle to access the teacher in a class where men are present too. This was not only made clear in the Hadith above, but the narration in Ibn Hibban (2941) is even clearer. The women wanted their own separate class so that they could more easily approach their blessed teacher ﷺ.
إِنَّا لَا نَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ نَأْتِيكَ مَعَ الرِّجَالِ
We are unable to approach you in the presence of the men. (Ibn Hibban, 2941)
Imam al-Bukhari
Those who a familiar with Imam al-Bukhari’s Sahih Hadith collection will know that the chapter headings he establishes allude to his own position on a matter. For the Hadith above he has the following chapter heading:
بَابٌ: هَلْ يُجْعَلُ لِلنِّسَاءِ يَوْمٌ عَلَى حِدَةٍ فِي العِلْمِ؟
Chapter: Should women be given a separate day for learning?
When this chapter heading is understood alongside the Hadith he narrated, it is clear that he believed it to be from the Sunnah to have a separate class for women. Other Hadith scholars have similar headings in their works too. The following is from Imam al-Nasai’s al-Sunan al-Kubra:
هَلْ يَجْعَلُ الْعَالِمُ لِلنِّسَاءِ يَوْمًا عَلَى حِدَةٍ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ؟
Should a scholar allocate a separate day for women to seek knowledge?
The Hanafi position
مَعْنَاهُ: أَن الرِّجَال يلازمونك كل الْأَيَّام ويسمعون الْعلم وَأُمُور الدّين، وَنحن نسَاء ضعفة لَا نقدر على مزاحمتهم، فَاجْعَلْ لنا يَوْمًا من الْأَيَّام نسْمع الْعلم ونتعلم أُمُور الدّين. (عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري)
Meaning, the men surround you every day, listening to knowledge and matters of religion. Whereas we women are weak and cannot compete with them. So, appoint for us a day from the days to listen to knowledge and learn matters of religion. (Imam Badr al-Deen al-Ayni 855H, Umdatu al-Qari)
In the Nass (text) above, Imam al-Ayni alludes to this separate class for women being a regular occurrence. He also alludes to the fact that the women wanted greater access to their blessed teacher ﷺ. This is important for students. Access to the teacher allows them to clarify matters that they may not have understood correctly. It also assists in the correct application of knowledge.
Conclusion
The Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari makes it clear that it is permissible for a man to teach women. If an equally knowledgeable female is available to teach, then that is certainly a better option. However, that is not always possible. Therefore, men teaching women’s only classes will become a requirement at times.
In such cases, it is important to observe the injunctions of gender interaction. The interaction must be formal and not overly friendly or familiar. The fact that a person is a woman’s teacher does not change any of the related legal rulings.
Some sisters treat their Shaykh in a manner which contradicts the Shaykh being a non-Mahram. And some teachers become overly friendly with their female students. If this is the case, then they need to find a different teacher. Knowledge is incredibly important, but it must be sought in accordance with the Islamic guidance.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (24.07.24)