Q: A very concerning matter facing us here in the UK and I believe in many countries. The matter is that some ladies have opened a door of going around place to place to give bayaans. They become speakers and attend as well as put together conferences where they attract audiences based on their skills in language and the ability to deliver an entertaining talk.
Some of them podcast on social media for everyone to listen to. Men have full access to listen to them live or to the saved video recordings. Some of them do so in niqaab and some without.
This oratory by these women has become very appealing to young girls who see this as a goal to achieve in their spiritual growth.
These women openly encourage other ladies to do the same and as a result there are teams of such ladies going around almost like shaikh and mureeds. They attract big followings and people are being misled to believe that the sahabiyaat use to also lecture and advise men in the matters of deen.
They lure young girls with the snare of online quran classes and then lead them to the same desire to be lecturers and hold their own conferences. This has also become a business in the name of deeni efforts. This looks very attractive to modern muslim families that their wives and daughters are getting some kind of exposure to deeni knowledge and it is also very convenient in keeping them busy and as it is said rather keep them off the streets.
Women and girls are also attracted through emotional activities of social and welfare work. In most cases the harms are not immediately apparent.
Should innocent families be warned about this? To what extent should women be allowed to have these kind of lecture conferences? How should people be made aware ? Will appreciate your guidance on this matter
A: This is not according to the traditional way of imparting education. We are repeatedly reminded that a woman should not expose herself and remain concealed. Apart from this, videoing and snapping herself is an additional wrong. Obviously, these conferences etc. will be available to all males and females. Hence, they will not be imparting deen, they will be imparting wrong values and shameful behaviour. So this must be discouraged.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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