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:

U   R   G   E   N   T

Dear Mr. Burhan bhai,

I quote this sentence from one of your q&a

"It is absolutely forbidden in Islam for a believer, who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day,  to have any form of a relationship with a non-mehram woman, other than marriage. Leave alone going on a date,  hugging, or kissing, etc., a believer is not permitted to even talk causally with a non-mehram woman!"

But today, we work in offices and public places where we meet non-mehram women all the times, so how do we stay away from them. The office I work has 8 girls (non-mehram) sitting in one room and we all work together, all these girls are christian and mushriks, how do you slove this problem of mine. Should I leave my job?

Pls advise.

Allah Hafiz.

(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:

Should one leave job if Women working together?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, there is no need to leave your job! What you need to do is fear Allah Subhanah, and protect yourself from putting yourself into a trial. Try not to meet your non-mehram women colleagues in private, nor have casual talks with them. Treat and talk to them in a straight forward business-like manner in all your dealings with them; and fear Allah at all times in whatever you do and say.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Nur verse 30: (O Prophet),Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.

But if you really wish to relieve yourself from putting yourself in trial, it would be better and purer for you that you find a job where you will not be amongst this ‘fitnah’. Fear Allah, and carry on doing your job and duties in the best possible manner, and constantly and humbly supplicate Allah Subhanah to help and guide you to a way which is better for you in the life of this world, and the Hereafter.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan