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 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

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 Paradise or your Hell."

 

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,

 

 

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