SHOULD A WOMAN OR A MAN TRAVEL ALONE? HADITH ANSWERS
Courtesy: Photo By Johnexley Online
Some male scholars say that if a wife leaves the house for any reason, she must ask her husband’s permission. They say that even the woman’s voice is “awrah” and should not be heard. If she travels, her husband or a male relative must accompany her. What do the Qur’an and the Hadith really say?
Answer by Br. Kaukab Siddique: We must realize that according to the Qur’an, authority belongs to ALLAH ALONE. [1] Any attempt to give authority to any human being is SHIRK, which is the only sin Allah does not forgive.
The Qur’an is a progressive revelation, which went through stages of development of the Muslim woman and the Muslim male. In the final analysis, male-female relations in Islam are based on TAQWA [Fear of Allah, God-conscious behavior], not on gender. [2]
In the FINAL revelation about men and women, the Qur’an proclaimed without ambiguity that the believing men and women are EACH OTHER’S protecting friends and guardians, not the woman under the domain of the male. [3] For more on (obedience to the husband issue) this click here…
In times of insecurity and war, in long journeys, the Prophet, pbuh, ordained that a woman should travel with her husband or a male relative. The intent of this was to help the woman and to provide security, not to put the woman under the control of her husband.
Some scholars who argue that the wife must obey the husband use the issue of travel.
There is a whole series of omissions, either dishonest or out of ignorance, carried out to use this issue. The following Hadith is quoted:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel except with a Mahram.” [Bukhari]
However, that is not the complete Hadith. Here it is with the key words in bold type:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel for one day and night except with a Mahram.” [Bukhari]
One day and night connotes a long journey. Nowadays, one can travel halfway around the world in a day and a night. This is certainly not about a woman going shopping or to meet her friends down in the city. In those days, it was dangerous and one could lose life, goods and honor to bandits on the way. There were no highways or electric lights on the sandy desert.
However, the misuse of Hadith does not end there. These scholars do not note the context and do not let anyone know that restrictions were put on males too. Here are the relevant Hadith:
The Prophet, pbuh, said: “Travel is a kind of punishment. It limits food, drink and sleep. When you have completed the requirements of travel, return quickly to your family.” [Bukhari and Muslim.]
MISUSE OF THE PROPHET’S (PBUH) WORDS
The Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, spent much of his life in Madinah in jihad. He traveled extensively for jihad and hence there are numerous hadith about travel and its rules.
It’s a shame for some modern Muslims and who have never spoken against the oppressors, let alone gone for jihad, to use the words of the greatest liberator of women, Muhammad Mustafa, pbuh, to subjugate women.
SHOULD A MAN TRAVEL ALONE?
When a man went out for a journey, his life was often in danger. Here is another Hadith on the subject, which stops men from going forth alone:
The messenger of Allah, pbuh, said:
“A horseman going alone is satanic. If there are two going by themselves, they are two Satans. And three is the proper [recommended] caravan.” [Sunan of Abu Dawood and Sunan of Nasa’i]
The messenger of Allah, pbuh, said;
“If people knew what I know about the bad aspects of traveling alone, no one would travel alone at night.” [Sahih Bukhari]
The Islamic solution, the Prophet, pbuh, gave was excellent but we Muslims have forgotten it. Where possible, especially where satanic forces are at work, Muslims should travel in groups, even if these are very small groups, and the traveling should be well organized:
The messenger of Allah, pbuh, said: “When three of you travel, make one of your companions the ameer.” [Sunan of Abu Dawood]
We are living in times where travel conditions are being affected by the antagonistic activities of our enemies. So go forth prepared:
Someone asked the messenger of Allah:”O messenger of Allah, I have the intention of travel. Please advise me.
He [the messenger, pbuh,} replied:
“The fear and awareness of Allah [taqwa] should always be with you, and at every high point [in the journey] say takbeer!” [Sunan of Tirmidhi]. [8]
WHAT ARE THE PRE-REQUISITES TO THE BOND OF MARRIAGE??
The role of the Wali or guardian has to be filled with wisdom, kindness and love for his daughter or ward, and no personal gain should enter into it :
All of the following hadith guides one into this aspect of the character of the Wali.
Narrated Saburah ibn Ma’bad al-Juhani:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited temporary marriage with women.
Book 11, Number 2080:
Narrated AbuMusa:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no marriage without the permission of a guardian.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Consult women about (the marriage of) their daughters.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
A virgin came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and mentioned that her father had married her against her will, so the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) allowed her to exercise her choice.
Book 11, Number 2088:
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: An orphan virgin girl should be consulted about herself; if she says nothing that indicates her permission, but if she refuses, the authority of the guardian cannot be exercised against her will. The full information rest with the tradition narrated by Yazid.
All of the above Ahadith are from :Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11:
Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah
THE SEQUENTIAL HADITH ON MUT’A (Temporary Marriage):
In response to a question from a Brother on an earlier post (CLICK HERE TO READ), I am writing this one as the answer is long and needs referential documentation:
PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH OUTLAWED MUT’A
Mut’a or temporary marriage was widespread in pagan Arabia along with many other oppressive practices which degraded women.
Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, outlawed muta’ but because it was widespread, it took two phases of banning for it to be stamped out.
1. One was at the battle against the Jews of Khyber.
2. The other at the battle against the pagans at the conquest of Makka also known as the campaign of Awtas.
“Ali, r.a., narrates that temporary marriage [mut’a] was prohibited by the Prophet, pbuh, at Khyber ….”
Hadith in the collections of Bukhari, Muslim, Muwatta of Malik, Sunan of Nasai, Tirmizi and ibn Maja]
Before the battle began, mut’a was permitted. Similarly, according to Arab custom, it was permitted at Awtas but then:
“Subra Juhni, r.a., narrates that the messenger of Allah, pbuh, said :
Mut’a was permitted to you but now Allah Almighty has declared it forbidden [haram] for all time to come till the Day of Judgement.”
[Hadith collected by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, ibn Maja and Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Mut’a is considered valid by the Shi’a sect because of a twisted interprtetation of a verse in the Qur’an. Hadith is always decisive in interepretation of the Qur’an.
Mut’a is a form of prostitution carried out under the cover of religion.
Women are sexually used in Mut’a for an hour or two or a week or two in exchange for money or a gift.
End answer
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BACKBITING & SLANDER?
Courtesy of: http://www.faizaneraza.org
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
Do you know what is backbiting? They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.
It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of?
He said:
If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander.
(Book #032, Hadith #6265) MUSLIM
………..and Allah the Almighty says in the Quran:
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting) . And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.
( سورة الحجرات , Al-Hujraat, Chapter #49, Verse #12)
IN THE SERVICE OF ALLAH & HIS RASOOL PBUH
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem,
Asalaam o alaikum Brothers and Sisters. Everyhting that I report on this blog that is good is from Allah and everything incorrect is from the Shaytaan or my Nafs. May Allah forgive me for any mistakes I made for surely He Subhanawataala knows that they are truly inadvertent.
May He Subhanawataala always guide me to say what is the truth. Ameen! Please keep me in your duas!
Hadith And Women 
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