Question: Me and my wife go out to the market to buy necessary items for her or the house, and she comes out with me completely covered, and all praise is due to Allaah (alone), and she does not speak to any of the traders (shop owners and assistants). So is there any sin in her coming out (like this) or not? (Please) advise me.
Response: There is no harm in a woman going out to buy necessary items from the market if she has no-one who is able to do this on her behalf, so long as she is completely covered and remains away from mixing with the men and unnecessarily talking to them. And if she has a man from amongst her mahrams with her, then that is more complete and better.
However, if there is someone who can buy these necessary items on her behalf, then there is no need for her to go out for that which exists therein of fitnah and danger, especially in this day and age in which fitnah has increased and humility and mutual respect has decreased – except upon those whom Allaah has shown Mercy to. So it is obligatory for a woman to remain in her home as much as she is able to, as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says:
{And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…}, Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 33
Shaykh Ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan – Volume 3, Page 294, Fatwa No.430. fatwaonline.com
