Interaction between males and females in a maktab

Q: In an Islamic after-school madrasah, boys and girls come to learn how to read the Quran and other essentials of Deen. Male teachers are appointed to teach the boys and female teachers for the girls. However, there is some interaction between males and females and I would like to know the Islamic ruling about that.

1. Is it allowed for male teachers to teach female students who are in their teens or for male teachers to take exams for such students? And can female teachers teach boys who are in their teens?

2. Is it permissible for a male teacher to teach the female teachers tajwid and in particular look at their face uncovered to see if they are reading the letters properly?

3. Is it permissible for male teachers and female teachers to sit together in meetings without any barrier in between?

4. Are male teachers and female teachers allowed to socialise with one another outside of the madrasah hours by going to restaurants etc or have friendly chit-chat and joke with one another?

5. Is it permissible for a male and female teacher to be alone with one another in any part of the madrasah building such as an office or madrasah room, or a corridor where they cannot be seen by anyone else? Is it allowed for a male teacher to be alone with a female teacher in a room with a window where they can be seen by others or where there is a cctv camera?

6. Are male teachers allowed to talk to female parents and vice versa? Please kindly provide answers to the questions above in light of the Hanafi fiqh.

A:

1. This must be corrected immediately. Females should be teaching females, and failure to observe this shar`ee procedure will lead to disaster and major problems.

2. As above. On account of the major corruption and fitnah this must be stopped immediately.

3 - 6. As above.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)