A Muslim Lady Living with Another Family

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it permissible for a Muslim woman living abroad to rent a room at a Muslim family’s (husband, wife and son) house provided that she’d remain in her room most of the day and avoid any interaction with the men in the household?

Answer

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.

In principle, if she can remain properly covered in front of the non-mahram men, avoid any inappropriate contact with them, and avoid any situations where should would be alone with them (khalwa), this would be permissible. In practice, the situation may be a bit more complicated.

There are the concerns of her safety and other temptations, and the whole setup may be alien to the culture or community in which she is staying. This may be frowned upon, and it can affect the legal ruling.

Please consult a reliable scholar of that locality for further clarity. If the above concerns are not relevant to the situation then it would be permissible provided the rules of the Shari’a mentioned above are adhered to. Allah knows best.
(Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar)

May Allah facilitate what is best for you din.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.