Are Women Allowed to Drive ???

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are women allowed to drive in islam, and if so then why in a muslim country like saudi arabia cant they??

-shakura

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The ruling for women driving must be derived from other laws and principals; meaning that we do not have a direct ruling on women driving in the Quran or Sunnah, because it is a new issue (Mustahdathah). Arabian scholars, who have ruled that it is unlawful for women to drive, have declared very disputable and irrational arguments. However, all of the Shia scholars, by using the Quran and Sunnah, and having not found any basis for its prohibition, have ruled that it is permitted, so long as proper hijab and Islamic values are observed. Just as some of the Sunni scholars of other Arab countries have ruled that it is permissible for women to drive.

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          In Society often new issues arise for which Islamic law has not established a specific ruling. The ruling must be deduced from other general legal precepts and juristic principals. Women driving are one of these types of rulings which must be deduced.

          Arabian scholars, who have ruled that it is unlawful for women to drive, have declared very disputable and irrational arguments.

          In a religious question asked to Abdul-Aziz Abdullah Ibn Baz on the ruling of women driving, he stated, "there is no doubt that it is not permissible, because women driving will cause much corruption, and according to Islamic law we should prevent corruption."[1] Muhammad Ibn Salehul Athimeen in this regard has also stated that, "It is not permissible because it will cause a lot of corruption."

[2] The reason he considered driving to be haram for women is that he saw many intangible corruptions with the driving of women. These are some of the things he recognized as corruptions: taking off hijab, loss of modesty, leaving the house too much, streets becoming overcrowded, going against and defying her husband, and depriving some of the youth from driving.[3]

          Just as you can see he considered some of the affairs associated with the driving of women as definite and some conceivable, and accordingly he ruled it haram for women to drive. But the question is; are these concerns true for Muslim and Mumen sisters who want to drive? And, is it possible for women to drive without any of these unbecoming issues to take place? In the Islamic republic of Iran for years many Muslim and Mumen women have been driving without any of these indecent outcomes taking place. Meaning that, it has been practically proven that Muslim women can drive while maintaining and observing their modesty, self-respect and hijab and not causing any corruption. It seems that Muslim legal scholars of Arabia have confused a number of issues. Is it haram for a woman to leave the house a lot if it is with her husband's permission and with the observance of Islamic values? Is driving a cause of a woman's disobedience? How is that possible? Yes it is possible in one or a few cases that a woman who drives also disobeys her husband, but that is not always the case. These are not reasons which can be present in the case of Mumen and Muhajabah (Islamicaly covered) women who observe Islamic principals.  Is it haram for the streets to be crowded, and can that be a reason for it to be haram for women not to drive? If it is proven that men are the causes of the streets being crowded then is it still haram, and should they be forbidden to drive as well? Then, is it permissible for women to drive in small cities and villages which have deserted streets?

         

          It has to be mentioned that the actions of some countries are not necessarily the applicability of islam, meaning; we can not say if a certain (Islamic) country considers something to be permissible then surely from an Islamic standpoint it is permissible, and if something were forbidden [by this country] then according to Islam such a thing is definitely forbidden. There must be a creditable Islamic basis in order for something to be deemed as Islamicaly permissible or forbidden.

 

 

          Taking into consideration that without a creditable Islamic basis, no one has the right to make something haram halal or visa versa, and the fact that when we have doubt as to whether or not something is haram then the primary principal is that we consider it to be halal; Shia scholars have given the fatwa that women can drive as long as completely maintain their hijab and observe Islamic values. [4] It is noticeable that the respectful and modest women of Iran do this without any problem, while observing Islamic laws and values. Of course, other than Iran, a lot of other Arab Muslim countries have not forbidden woman to drive, and many of their scholars have not accepted and criticized the Saudi Arabian verdict on this matter.[5]

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[1] Various Arguments in Primary Principal and an Analysis of it's

Effects Dr.

Musleh Ibn Abdul-Hay Annajar (Professor of Riyaz College) Pg.144; Benefits and Fatwas, Abdullah Ibn Abdul RAhman Pg.164;The Fatwas of Women, Khalid Aljarisi Pg.8

[2] {Same} Pg.147

[3] {Same}

[4] Catechism of Legal Authorities Vol.2, Pg. 931; Religious Question Responses by Imam Khomeini (May Allah have mercy on his soul) Vol.3, Pg.358, Ques.35-41

[5] Various Arguments in Primary Principal and an Analysis of it's Effects�, Section- Sadda Dherate Pg.144

Assalamu�Alaikum,

Here is some information about the issue of women and driving. With situations like these it�s important to refer to the Quran and Sunnah but also the Fiqh/Shariah and Fatwas� based on those sources.

This question posed by the poster sounds very simple black and white. But if it was as simple as whether a muslimah had the time money and knowledge to posses a license to legally drive a vehicle to get from point A-to-point B it is not. Any muslimah that can read and write to learn how to safely maintain a vehicle on the road can drive a car with ease.

The more valid question should be under which circumstances should this take place. If you are going to be accompanied by mahram or not. If you have valid reasons according to Fiqh to leave your homes and if it is best for you to break your purdah and take care of matters without mahram vs. arranging for mahram to accompany you. Life is a test and it is best for us as muslimahs to strive hard in our daily lives with actions and intentions that are pleasing to Allah(swt).

Taken from Islam Page:

In order to safeguard the integrity of Muslim women in general, the Shari'ah has discouraged them from stepping out of their homes unless accompanied by a Mahram. The following Ahadith will sufficiently explain the matter in discussion.
Hadith One:
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) reported Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) as saying, 'It is not permitted for a Muslim woman to make a journey of a night unless accompanied by a Mahram.'
Explanation: A woman can only travel with a Mahram, i.e. a male with whom her marriage is forbidden eternally viz. her father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, etc. In the case of a married woman she can be accompanied by her husband.
The above Hadith mentions the length of journey to be one night while the aforementioned Ahaadith differ in the length of journey, hence, the Ahaadith may seem outward to contradict each other. These variations are due to various reasons. However, it must be understood that the intention behind specifying a particular length of journey denotes that if the distance is such that there is fear of Fitna (danger and risk of her chastity), a woman should not undertake the journey alone, without a Mahram.
In the light of many similar Ahaadith, it is understood that a woman cannot undertake a journey of three days alone. The distance of three days journey is calculated as 88km. A woman cannot travel alone for 89 km. However, for a distance of less than 88km, due to Fitna, it will also not be permissible for her to travel alone.
Hadith Two
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'It is not permitted for a woman who has faith in Allah and the last day to make a journey of a day and night.'
Hadith Three
Abu Saeed (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) reported Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying, 'It is not permitted for a woman who brings faith in Allah and the Last Day to make a journey of more than three days unless she is accompanied by either her father, brother, husband, son or a relative who is her Mahram.'
Hadith Four
Hadhrat ibn Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhuma) reported Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying, 'A woman must not make a journey of three days unless accompanied by a relative who is her Mahram.'
Explanation: As regard to the length of journey, four different measurements are recorded viz. that of one night, one night and a day, two days and three days (and three days or more). According to the Muhaddiseen (commentators of Hadith) the term `journey' used refers to such a length which can generally be considered to be a journey. Consequently, the Jurists have declared that a woman should not make a journey of 88 km without the company of a Mahram.

Islam Question and Answer
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Question No 45880
Does the ruling on driving a car vary from one country to another? Question:

Throughout the Muslim world we find that there are differences between one country and another, in manner of dress, customs and traditions. For example we see that in some countries our sisters wear niqaab, because they follow the fatwa that says that niqaab is obligatory, but that is not widespread in another country, and the opinion that they follow there is that niqaab is not obligatory, rather it is mustahabb. Similarly with regard to women driving cars, in some countries the shaykhs have declared it to be haraam because of the harms that would result if it were allowed, whilst in other countries it is a very ordinary thing for a woman to drive a car, and they have been doing so for decades.
To what extent is there flexibility in rulings? Is what is happening correct, I mean is it right that something may be obligatory in one country and mustahabb in another?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The rulings of sharee�ah are of two types:

1 � Those where the evidence of sharee�ah points to the ruling, regardless of various customs or what good or bad consequences may result.

In this case the ruling is fixed and does not vary from one place to another or from one person to another, unless a person is forced to do something, is sick or is excused, in which case the ruling is waived as much as required by his situation according to what it says in sharee�ah.

An example of such a fixed rule is the obligation to offer the five daily prayers, to fast Ramadaan, to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, to seek knowledge, etc.

Another example is the obligation for the Muslim woman to cover her entire body, including the face and hands. This ruling is obligatory and does not vary from one place to another.

We have already discussed this obligation in questions no. 21134 and 13647, where we quote the evidence for that.

2 � Rulings which are based on specific reasons, or where the ruling as to whether a thing is forbidden, allowed or obligatory depends upon whatever good or bad consequences will result from that, and where there is no shar�i evidence to suggest a fixed ruling that does not vary. The issue of women driving cars may come under this heading.

The scholars have issued fatwas stating that it is haraam because of the negative consequences that may result from it.

This applies completely to the land of the two Holy Sanctuaries. With regard to other countries, the matter should be referred to trustworthy scholars for they know their countries� situation best.

Shaykh �Abd al-�Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

People have spoken a great deal in the al-Jazeerah newspaper about the issue of women driving cars. It is well known that it leads to evil consequences which are well known to those who promote it, such as being alone with a non-mahram woman, unveiling, reckless mixing with men, and committing haraam actions because of which these things were forbidden. Islam forbids the things that lead to haraam and regards them as being haraam too.

Allaah commanded the wives of the Prophet and the believing women to stay in their houses, to observe hijab and to avoid showing their adornments to non-mahrams because of the permissiveness that all these things lead to, which spells doom for society. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

�O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed�

[al-Noor 24:31]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �No man is alone with a (non-mahram) woman but the Shaytaan is the third one present.�

Islam forbids all the things that may lead to immorality or accusations of immoral conduct made against chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity, and it has stipulated a punishment for that which is one of the most severe of punishments, in order to protect society from the spread of the causes of immorality.

Women driving is one of the means that lead to that, and this is something obvious, but ignorance of the rulings of sharee�ah and the negative consequences of carelessness with regard to the things that lead to evil � as well as diseases of the heart that prevail at present � and love of permissiveness and enjoying looking at non-mahram women all lead to indulging in this and similar things, with no knowledge and paying no attention to the dangers that it leads to. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

[al-Baqarah 2:168]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �I am not leaving behind me any fitnah more harmful to men than women.�

It was narrated that Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: �The people used to ask the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things, fearing that I would live to see such things. I said, �O Messenger of Allaah, we were in a state of ignorance (jaahiliyyah) and evil, then Allaah sent us this good (i.e., Islam). Will there be any evil after this good?� He said, �Yes.� I said, �Will there by any good after that evil?� He said, �Yes, but it will be tainted.� I said, �How will it be tainted?� He said, �(There will be) some people who will guide others in a way that is not according to my guidance. You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of others.� I said, �Will there be any evil after that good?� He said, �Yes, there will be people calling at the gates of Hell, and whoever responds to their call, they will throw them into it (the Fire).� I said, �O Messenger of Allaah, describe them to us.� He said, �They will be from among our people, speaking our language.� I said, �What do you command me to do if I live to see such a thing?� He said, �Adhere to the jamaa�ah (group, community) of the Muslims and their imaam (leader).� I asked, �What if there is no jamaa�ah and no leader?� He said, �Then keep away from all those groups, even if you have to bite (eat) the roots of a tree until death overtakes you whilst you are in that state.�� Agreed upon.

I call upon every Muslim to fear Allaah in all that he says and does and to beware of fitnah and those who promote it. He should keep away from all that angers Allaah or leads to His wrath, and he should be extremely cautious lest he be one of these callers to Hell of whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) tells us in this hadeeth.

May Allaah protect us from the evil of fitnah and its people, and protect this ummah from the evil of those who promote bad things. May He help the writers of our newspapers and all the Muslims to do that which pleases Him and may He set the Muslims straight and save them in this world and in the Hereafter, for He is Able to do that.

Majmoo� Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 3/351-353.

Shaykh Ibn �Uthaymeen was asked: I hope you can explain the ruling on women driving cars. And what is your opinion on the idea that women driving cars is less dangerous than their riding with non-mahram drivers?

The answer to this question is based on two principles which are well known among the Muslim scholars:

The first principle is: that whatever leads to haraam is itself haraam. The evidence for this is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

[al-An�aam 6:108]

So Allaah forbids insulting the gods of the mushrikeen � even though that serves an interest � because it leads to insults against Allaah.

The second principle is: that warding off evil � if it is equal to or greater than the interests concerned � takes precedence over bringing benefits. The evidence for that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

�They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit�

[al-Baqarah 2:219]

Allaah has forbidden alcohol and gambling even though there is some benefit in them, so as to ward off the evils that result from them.

Based on these two principles, the ruling on women driving should be clear, because women driving includes a number of evils, including the following:

1 � Removal of hijab, because driving a car involves uncovering the face which is the site of fitnah and attracts the glance of men. A woman is only regarded as beautiful or ugly on the basis of her face, i.e., if it is said that she is beautiful or ugly, people only think in terms of her face. If something else is meant it must be specified, so that one would say that she has beautiful hands or beautiful hair or beautiful feet. Hence it is known that the face is the focal point. If someone were to say that a woman can drive a car without taking off her hijab, by covering her face and wearing dark glasses over her eyes, the answer to that is that this is not what really happens when women drive cars. Ask those who have seen them in other countries. Even if we assume that this could be applied initially, it would not last for long, rather the situation would soon become as it is in other countries where women drive. This is how things usually develop; they start out in an acceptable fashion then they get worse.

2 � Another evil consequence of women driving cars is that they lose their modesty, and modesty is part of faith as is narrated in a saheeh report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Modesty is the noble characteristic that befits the nature of women and protects them from being exposed to fitnah. Hence it is mentioned in a metaphorical sense (in Arabic), in the phrase �more modest than a virgin in her seclusion.� Once a woman�s modesty is lost, do not ask about her.

3 � It also leads to women going out of the house a great deal, but their homes are better for them � as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said � because those who love to drive enjoy it very much, hence you see them driving around in their cars here and there for no purpose, except to enjoy driving.

4 � You may find a divorced woman going where she wants, whenever she wants and however she wants, for whatever purpose she wants, because she is alone in her car, at any time she wants of the day or night. She may stay out until late at night. If people are complaining about this with regard to young men, then what about young women, going all over the place the length and breadth of the country, and maybe even beyond its borders.

5 � It is a means of women rebelling against their families and husbands; at the least provocation they may go out of the house and drive in the car to wherever they think they can get some peace, as happens in the case of some young men, who are able to put up with more than women.

6 � It is a cause of fitnah in many places: when stopping at the traffic lights, or at gas stations, or at inspection points, or when stopped by policemen at the scenes of traffic infractions or accidents, or if the car stalls and the woman needs help. What will her situation be in this case? Perhaps she may come across an immoral man who takes advantage of her in return for helping her, especially if her need is great to the point of urgency.

7 � When women drive it leads to overcrowding in the streets, or it deprives some young men of the opportunity to drive cars when they are more deserving of that.

8 � It causes fitnah to flourish because women � by their nature � like to make themselves look good with clothing etc. Do you not see how attached they are to fashion? Every time a new fashion appears they throw away what they have and rush to buy the new things, even if it is worse than what they have. Do you not see the adornments that they hang on their walls? In the same way � or perhaps more so � with the cars that they drive, whenever a new model appears they will give up the first for the new one.

With regard to the questioner asking, �And what is your opinion on the idea that women driving cars is less dangerous than their riding with non-mahram drivers?� � what I think is that both of them involve danger, and one is more serious than the other in some ways, but there is no necessity that would require one to do either of them.

Please note that I have answered this question at length because of the controversy that surrounds the issue of women driving cars, and the pressure faced by conservative Saudi society, which is striving to adhere to its religious commitment and morals, to allow women to drive cars.

This would be nothing strange if it were to come from an enemy who seeks to cause harm this land which is the last bastion of Islam that the enemies of Islam wish to penetrate. But what is even stranger is that this is coming from our own people who speak our language and live under our banner, people who are dazzled by what the kaafir nations have of material advancement and admire their ways which are devoid of any moral restrictions.

End quote from Shaykh Ibn �Uthaymeen.

With regard to countries in which woman are allowed to drive cars, Muslim women should avoid that as much as possible, for the reasons mentioned above.

In cases of necessity, such as helping accident victims or fleeing from a criminal, there is nothing wrong with a Muslim woman using a car in such situations, if she cannot find a man to help her.

There are other cases, such as women who have to go out to work and have no husband, father or guardian to look after them and no income from the government to meet their needs, and they cannot find work that they can do at home, such as some internet-based jobs, so they are forced to go out. In that case they can use the means of transportation that poses the least danger to them.

There may be some means of transportation that are available only to women, or a group of women may hire a driver to take them to work or university. Using taxis� for those who can afford it � may be better than using public transportation where a woman may be exposed to humiliation and aggression, so they should use taxis, so long as they are not alone with the driver.

If a woman is forced to drive a car in cases of extreme need, then she should drive wearing full jilbaab and hijab, and with fear of Allaah.

We have already mentioned above what constitutes need.

Women should also seek fatwas from the trustworthy scholars in their own countries � not those who are too lenient � who understand both sharee�ah and the situation in that country.

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

[al-Taghaabun 64:16]

Another evil consequence of women driving cars is that they lose their modesty,

How does driving a car cause women to loose their modesty? What does driving a car have to do with it? I am probably more protected in a car then I am walking around..

There are other cases, such as women who have to go out to work and have no husband, father or guardian to look after them and no income from the government to meet their needs, and they cannot find work that they can do at home, such as some internet-based jobs, so they are forced to go out. In that case they can use the means of transportation that poses the least danger to them.

First of all, in Any Islamic country services must be provided by women for women. For instance: we need women: doctors, lawyers (to service women in need of law service), accountants (to service women business operators), nurses, teachers, shop keepers (I refuse to buy my underwear from  man), women to work at airports, women to work in governemt offices that service women,  women to pick up their children from work, women to work in women's prisons, etc.

In any true Islamic state, to protect women, womens should service women. Now how Islamic is it to:

-ride in a car with a driver who is NOT my husband or brother (and many places in Saudi Arabia have drivers. hmm??

-go to a male tailor to have my clothes fitted?

-be searched by a man at the airport, train or bus station

-have a male police officer arrest a woman?

-to have a man teach my daughter

-see a man if she is in need of a lawyer, (they will be alone often)?

We should not go about outside for "no reason." The reality in any Moslem society women have places to go. It is about loitering with no reason, causing trouble.

So if women do not drive who will pick up the kids at 3:30 when the husband is at work??

This is frustrating as it imples all women are "weak" and will drive around uselessly. Well that could be said of most of the male teenagers I know. You'd be better off not having any males drive cars. They are the most reckless and have the highest rate of accidents.

If I am correct Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world women are prohibited from driving. Even in moslem countries most of the drivers are men. And in no Moslem country do women drive around aimlessly, and stuff. This is just another way to control women as if we are the cause of all the problems.

All ther world is not rich and can hire a driver and taxi. That soon puts you in the poor house. And they do not answer, who will provide the services for the women, if the women are not out doing them????

As someonesaid, if I can ride a horse or a camel, I can drive a car or ride a bicycle.

The problems is that women do not receive their full rights gauranteed in Islam. Many places they do not have an education, health care etc. We focus so much on controlling women, if we trust men to control themselves and not walk into the brothel then why should we not trust women?