Permissibility for woman to drive vehicle
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
I ride a motorcycle. Its not an automatic moped. Its a geared
big bike.
My father does not agree to me riding it although I am dressed
in full loose bike gear and helmet when riding it.
Please could you clarify the situation with any Hadith or
teachings that may be able to back me up when trying to perusade my father.
I would really appreciate you help.
Jazakallah,
Salaam,
Sumiyyah
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Answer:
Permissibility for woman to drive
vehicle
In the name of Allah, We praise Him,
seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can
misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them
aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone,
and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal
of His Messengers.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33
Surah Ahzaab verse 59:
O Prophet, enjoin your wives and
daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments
over their persons. It is expected that they will thus be
recognized, and not molested. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24
Surah Noor verse 31:
31 And say
to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their
modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except
that which is displayed of itself; that they should draw their veils over their
bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their
fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their
brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women,
or the slaves, whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of
physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex;
and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to
their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together
towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss.
Now to answer your specific questions:
My
father does not agree to me riding it although I am dressed in full loose bike
gear and helmet when riding it.
The wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) ,
rode camels and so did other women from among the wives of the Companions. It
was proven that the Prophet (peace be upon him), said: "The
best women among the camel riders are the righteous women of the
Quraysh." (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
In the time of our Prophet (peace be upon him)
women did ride camels and horses, but they made sure they were dressed properly
(Islamic standard). Today there is no harm according to Shariah if women
drive cars, motor-cycles or even airplanes. The condition is that they
should be clad appropriately and not be alone in the company of
non-mehrams in the vehicle.
Hence my dear beloved sister in Islam, there in no
harm if you are dressed properly and ride a geared bike if there is an actual
necessity.
What
is strictly prohibited in Islam is that you cannot take a non-mehram
passenger on the back seat (Pillion).
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3118 Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab
The Prophet (saws) said, "Whenever a man
is alone with a (non-mehram)woman, the Shaytaan makes the third."
Please
could you clarify the situation with any Hadith or teachings that may be able
to back me up when trying to perusade my father.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
1.505 Narrated by Abdullah
I asked the Prophet (saws): "Which deed
is the dearest to Allah?" He (saws) replied, "To offer the prayers at
their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in
goodness)?" He (saws) replied, "To
be good and dutiful to your parents." I again asked,
"What is the next (in goodness)?" He (saws) replied, "To participate
in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause." 'Abdullah
added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet (saws)
would have told me more."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
4941 Narrated by Abu Umamah
A man said, "O Messenger of
Allah (saws), what rights can parents demand from their children?"
He (saws) replied, "They are (or your relation with them will
determine) your
If your father has reservation about your safety
then you are obliged to listen to him and refrain from riding this bike.
If a woman rides a bicycle in front of men there is
the possibility that she may become uncovered and part of her body may appear
or the shape of her body may appear when she moves and air flows around
her.
Maybe your father feels that people in the
vicinity will talk/say things that are not appropriate, then also it is your
duty to maintain his dignity and take heed of his advice.
Other than that there are no restrictions as far as
the Shariah is concerned.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only
ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Members of Islamhelpline
