السلام عليكم ورحمه الله وبركاته
الحمد لله والصلاه والسلام على رسول الله وعلى اله واصحابه اجمعين ومن تبعهم باحسان الى يوم الدين اما بعد…
A sister sent me this question which was asked to Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem hafidhahullah and she asked me to comment on that.
(The) QUESTION: It is not permissible for women to ride bike amongst nonmehrarn, but can she sit behind her male mahram on bike?
ANSWER: This is not permissible as this is dangerous for her to get exposed if she were to fall and also her body curves would be “too visible”. End Quote from Shaikh Assim Al-Hakeem.
We will be referencing three Ahadith:
Hadith 1:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best women are the riders of the camels and the righteous among the women of Quraish. They are the kindest women to their children in their childhood and the more careful women of the property of their husbands.” (Al-Bukhari 5082)
Hadith 2:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
We were in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) while returning from ‘Usfan, and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was riding his she-camel keeping Safiya bint Huyay riding behind him. His she-camel slipped and both of them fell down. Abu Talha jumped from his camel and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! May Allah sacrifice me for you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Take care of the lady.” So, Abu Talha covered his face with a garment and went to Safiya and covered her with it, and then he set right the condition of their shecamel so that both of them rode, and we were encircling Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) like a cover. When we approached Medina, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “We are returning with repentance and worshipping and praising our Lord.” He kept on saying this till he entered Medina. (Al-Bukhari 3085)
Hadith 3:
On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Verily Allah has pardoned [or been lenient with] for me my ummah: their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and that which they have been forced to do under duress. A hasan hadeeth related by Ibn Majah, and al-Bayhaqee and others. (Arbain An-Nawawi)
Quran:”And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears”. (Quran 24:31)
Points:
The Ahadith I shared show the mistakes in Ustadh Assim Al-Hakeem’s answer:
- One of the ‘virtues’ of Qurayshi women was that they rode camels. This shows that riding an animal for women is a ‘virtue’ not something Haram.
- There’s no Ayah or Hadith that clearly states that riding animals for women is Haram.
- The second Hadith alludes to the fact that even though women can fall from camels, that doesn’t disallow them from riding on them.
- Women may ‘accidentally’ become uncovered and this not something they can avoid. (Hadith 3)
- Women in the times of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ would ride on camels in the presence of men mahram and non-mahram. (Hadith 2)
- Women should try their best not to show their curves, but if even after trying their best, i.e. following the proper Hijab, making it loose, opaque etc., if their ‘curves’ are shown they’re forgiven for that as it is something they can’t go out of the way and hide. (See Quran 24:31)
7. So as long as Muslim women wear an appropriate Hijab according to the Quran and Sunnah and they’re generally safe in the place where they’re riding, it is allowed in the Shariah for them to ride on bikes and motorcycles.
واخر دعوانا ان الحمد لله رب العالمين.
-Abu Muaaz Mohammed Manna (16th/Jan/2021)
Also see:
Shaykh Al Albani On Women Driving
Questioner: Is it permissible for a woman to drive a car?
Answer:If it is permissible for her to ride upon a (female) donkey then it is permissible for her to drive a
Questioner: But there is a difference between a donkey and a car.
Sh Al-Albaanee: Which is more concealing – riding upon a donkey or in a car? I would suggest (riding in) a car.
Shaykh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaanee
http://www.alalbany.orghttp://
Moulana Makki Al-Hijazi (Hanafi) on women driving:
Saheehus-Seerah 