A sister sent a question asking what things a woman should keep in mind while walking on the road and what should be her manner of walking, that is, should she walk slowly or can she also walk fast, and while walking should she keep herself straight or somewhat bent, and what other things should be considered?
I found this question quite important, so I thought to gather important information related to it so that besides the questioner, other Muslim sisters can also benefit from it. Accordingly, the guidance that the pure Shariah provides in relation to the mentioned question is briefly explained in the following lines.
When a woman intends to go outside the house, she should primarily keep three things in mind.
(1) Allah Almighty has commanded a woman to reside in her home; therefore, a woman should consider her home obligatory and should not step outside unnecessarily. She should only go out when there is a need. Allah Almighty says: وقرن في بيوتكن ولا تبرجن تبرج الجاهلية الأولىٰ(الاحزاب:33)
Translation: And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like the display of the former times of ignorance.
In this verse, Allah has on one hand commanded the woman to stay in the home, and on the other hand, it is understood that a woman can go outside out of necessity, not displaying adornment like in the age of ignorance, but observing hijab.
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) found it very unpleasant for a woman to go out of her home. Once, Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Sawda (may Allah be pleased with her), after the command of hijab was revealed, went out intending to relieve herself. Hazrat Umar recognized her by her heavy body and said, “How are you going out like this?” She returned home. The Prophet ﷺ was in her house; he narrated the incident, and then revelation came, and the Prophet ﷺ said: إنه قد أذن لكن أن تخرجن لحاجتكن(صحیح البخاری:4795)
You have been permitted (by Allah) to go out for relieving yourself.
From this hadith, it is also understood that a woman can go out of the house due to necessity, and what that necessity can be: for treatment, for necessary meetings, for prayer, for buying and selling under excuse, for performing lawful acts within the limits of Shariah, and for other such necessities without which there is no alternative.
One major reason why a woman is prohibited from going out unnecessarily is explained by the Prophet ﷺ who said:
المرأةُ عورةٌ فإذا خرجتِ استشرفَها الشَّيطانُ(صحيح الترمذي:1173)
Translation: A woman is a complete cover; when she goes out, Satan watches her.
In another hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: إن المرأة عورة ، فإذا خرجت استشرفها الشيطان ، وأقرب ما تكون من وجه ربها وهي في قعر بيتها(صحيح ابن خزيمة:1685 وقال الألباني إسناده صحيح)
Translation: A woman is something to be covered; when she goes out of the house, Satan peeps at her, and a woman is closest to Allah when she is in a corner or a hidden place in her house.
That is, a woman is a means for Satan through which both women and men can be led to the path of sin. Therefore, Islam has prohibited a woman from going out unnecessarily as a preventive measure against sin. A woman who stays at home is safe, secure, and close to her Lord, whereas a woman who goes out can be a cause of fitnah (temptation).
(2) The second point is that when a woman leaves her house out of necessity, she should go out in complete hijab and veil. The evidence for this is also in the previous verse of Ahzab. In this verse, Allah forbids showing tibr (adornment) when going out due to necessity. Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, may Allah have mercy on him, explains tibr under this verse, writing: “What is included in tibr? Tibr means trying to show one’s beauty, physical charms, and makeup to others, especially men, and it includes five things: (1) Displaying the beauty of one’s body (2) Displaying jewelry and anklets (3) Displaying worn clothes (4) A coquettish and delicate gait (5) Using fragrances that attract strangers.”
Consider also this hadith when the Prophet ﷺ ordered women to go out to the Eidgah. Umm Atiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, asked him what if a woman did not have a jilbab (large cloak), how should she go out to the Eidgah? He replied that her sister should cover her with her cloak.
Thus, in every case, a woman should go out with complete veil, and if a woman does not have a hijab, she should go out covered in someone else’s hijab. The women of the Prophet’s era used to go out covering their entire body including face, hands, and feet, with the hem of their clothes dragging on the ground. Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, says:
رخص رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأمهات المؤمنين في الذيل شبرا ثم استزدنه فزادهن شبرا فكن يرسلن إلينا فنذرع لهن ذراعا(ابوداؤد:4119، صححہ البانی)
Translation: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, permitted the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them) to let their garment hang one hand’s length, and when they desired more, he allowed them an additional hand’s length. Thus, when the Mothers of the Believers sent us clothes, we would measure them with one hand.
Here, one hand’s length refers to one hand’s length from half the calf, which the Prophet allowed. See the eagerness of the Sahabiyat for veil; they demanded more covering, so the Prophet ﷺ permitted an additional hand’s length. Thus, compared to men, a woman must keep her garment two hand-lengths below half the calf. Two hand-lengths equal one hand, so Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, measured the cloth from half the calf to one hand. Consider another hadith here: A woman asked the Prophet ﷺ, “O Messenger of Allah! Our path to the mosque is dirty and filthy, so what should we do when it rains?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Is there no better and cleaner path beyond it?” She said, “Yes, there is.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Then that is the answer.”
This hadith also indicates that a woman’s garment should drag on the ground. The purpose of this detailed explanation of veil here is that today’s women should take admonition from these matters and reform themselves.
(3) The third thing is that a woman should not go outside wearing perfume. Abu Musa Ash’ari رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
كل عين زانية ، والمرأة إذا استعطرت فمرت بالمجلس ، فهي كذا وكذا. يعني زانية( صحيح الترمذي:2786)
Translation: Every eye commits adultery, and when a woman passes by wearing perfume near a gathering, she is like that, meaning she is also an adulteress.
In this hadith, there is a severe warning for a woman who goes outside wearing perfume; such a woman is called an adulteress because this perfume will attract people towards her, meaning she is causing people to be drawn to her. Therefore, there is a strict warning for her. This is why a woman is allowed to come from home to the mosque, but if she has worn perfume, then she is not permitted to come to the mosque. Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أيما امرأة أصابت بخورا فلا تشهدن معنا العشاء(صحيح أبي داود:4175)
Translation: A woman who has applied perfume should not come to us for the Isha prayer (in the mosque).
At this point, it should also be noted that she should not wear bangles, anklets, or anything that produces jingling sounds while walking because people will be attracted to that sound. Even the one who attracts should not adopt attractive clothing or any trait that causes attraction. The Prophet ﷺ said about the woman who attracts and the one who is attracted (from the straight path):
لا يدخلن الجنة ولا يجدن ريحها، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذا(مسلم:2128)
Translation: They will not enter Paradise, nor will they even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be perceived from a great distance.
Keeping these basic points in mind, a woman should consider the following things while walking on the road.
*The first point in this regard is that a woman should walk by the side of the road because the Prophet ﷺ forbade women from walking in the middle of the road:
Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: ليس للنساء وسط الطريق( السلسلة الصحيحة:856)
Translation: It is not appropriate for women to walk in the middle of the path.
Nowadays, due to vehicles, it is generally difficult for everyone to walk in the middle of the road, yet there are still some paths where people walk across the entire road; in such cases, women should walk by the side.
Abu Asid Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates:
أنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول وهو خارج من المسجد، فاختلط الرجال مع النساء في الطريق، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم للنساء: استأخرن؛ فإنه ليس لكن أن تحققن الطريق، عليكن بحافات الطريق. قال: فكانت المرأة تلصق بالجدار حتى إن ثوبها ليتعلق بالجدار من لصوقها به(سنن ابی داؤد:5272، حسنہ البانی)
Translation: He heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say this when he was coming out of the mosque and people had mingled with the women on the path. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to the women: “Step back, it is not appropriate for you to walk in the middle of the path; it is suitable for you to walk by the edges of the path.” Then it happened that the women began to walk close to the wall, so much so that their clothes (such as dupattas) would get caught in the wall.
Consider how eagerly the female companions would act upon any command from the Prophet ﷺ, SubhanAllah.
*An important Shariah ruling for women while walking is to lower their gaze. The command to lower the gaze has also been given to men, and especially women have been commanded to do so. Allah Almighty says:
وقل للمؤمنات يغضضن من أبصارهن ويحفظن فروجهن ولا يبدين زينتهن إلا ما ظهر منها ۖ وليضربن بخمرهن علىٰ جيوبهن(النور:31)
Translation: And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity and not to display their adornment except that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms.
This verse applies in general situations as well, where there are unrelated men present, or while walking or traveling, a woman should keep her gaze lowered, hide her adornment, and keep her veil over her chest. Essentially, a woman must practice these things while walking.
*In light of the aforementioned verse, it is also understood that a woman should not walk around looking here and there, staring at everything, and turning her attention in all directions, but rather she should walk with her head lowered, eyes downcast, and looking straight ahead, raising her gaze and turning her attention only when necessary. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) describes the manner in which the Prophet ﷺ used to walk: اتبعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وخرج لحاجته، فكان لا يلتفت، فدنوت منه(صحيح البخاري:155)
Translation: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once went to relieve himself. It was his blessed habit that he would not look around while walking. So I also followed behind him and came close to him.
There are other hadiths as well that mention that the Prophet ﷺ did not turn his attention around while walking, as Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: كان لا يلتفت وراءه إذا مشى(صحيح الجامع:4870) meaning the Prophet ﷺ did not look back while walking. And in another narration it is stated: كان إذا مشى لم يلتفت
meaning when he walked, he did not turn his attention around. If this was the case for the Prophet ﷺ as a man, then a woman who is entirely covered should be even more cautious in this matter.
*It is prohibited for a woman to walk with a stamping or clattering gait. Allah Almighty says: ولا يضربن بأرجلهن ليعلم ما يخفين من زينتهن (النور:31)
Translation: And do not walk in a way that draws attention by striking your feet loudly so that what is hidden of your adornment becomes known.
This verse restricts the manner of a woman’s walk, instructing her not to strike her feet on the ground in such a way that the beauty of her feet or the jingling of anklets becomes audible. A woman should walk in a normal manner, with seriousness and dignity.
* A woman’s ornament is her modesty and chastity, and this ornament should always be with her. When she leaves the house, she should walk with modesty and not walk like a prostitute, swaying and posing coquettishly. You must have read the story of the two sisters related to Prophet Musa’s (Moses) journey to Madinah, in which the arrival of one sister is mentioned in this manner: فجاءته إحداهما تمشي على استحياء(القصص:25)
Translation: At that moment, one of the two women came towards him walking with modesty and chastity.
Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) had prayed to Allah for goodness and blessings, Allah accepted the prayer, and one of the two sisters came to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) with modesty and said, “My father is calling you to give you the payment for watering our (animals).”
*There is no place for arrogance and pride in the land of Allah for anyone, whether man or woman, and women, being the delicate gender, should behave with even more humility compared to men. Allah does not like an arrogant attitude at all, and therefore He has forbidden His servants from walking arrogantly on the earth. As a lesson, observe this incident from the Children of Israel as well.
It is narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
بينما رجل يمشي في حلة، تعجبه نفسه، مرجل جمته، إذ خسف الله به، فهو يتجلجل إلى يوم القيامة(صحيح البخاري:5789)
Translation: A man among the Children of Israel was wearing a pair of shoes, walking arrogantly with pride, combing his hair arrogantly, and Allah caused him to sink into the earth. He will continue to writhe or sink in it until the Day of Judgment.
* While walking, a woman may pass by many people. In such a situation, how is it for a stranger man to greet or for a man to greet a woman?
It is narrated from Suhail رضي الله عنه:
كنا نفرح يوم الجمعة قلت: ولم؟ قال: كانت لنا عجوز، ترسل إلى بضاعة – قال ابن مسلمة: نخل بالمدينة – فتأخذ من أصول السلق، فتطرحه في قدر، وتكركر حبات من شعير، فإذا صلينا الجمعة انصرفنا، ونسلم عليها فتقدمه إلينا، فنفرح من أجله، وما كنا نقيل ولا نتغدى إلا بعد الجمعة(صحيح البخاري:6248)
Translation: We used to be happy on Fridays. I asked why? He said that we had an old woman who used to go to the date orchard. Ibn Salamah said that the date orchard was a date garden in Madinah Munawwarah. Then she used to bring beets from there and put them in a pot, and she would grind some barley grains and mix them in it. When we returned after Friday prayer, we used to come to greet her, and she would place this treat of beetroot mixed with flour before us. Because of this, we used to be happy on Fridays, and we used to have our midday or afternoon meal after Friday prayer.
From this hadith, it is understood that men can greet women. Therefore, Imam Bukhari رضي الله عنه has dedicated a chapter (باب تسليم الرجال على النساء، والنساء على الرجال) (Chapter: Men greeting women and women greeting men).
The Prophet ﷺ also greeted women. Shahr bin Hawshab says that Asma bint Yazid رضي الله عنها informed him:
مر علينا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في نسوة، فسلم علينا( صحيح أبي داود:5204)
Translation: When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed by the women, he greeted us.
Umm Hani bint Abi Talib, who was the paternal cousin of the Prophet ﷺ and thus non-mahram to him, greeted him during the conquest of Makkah.
The summary of all these points is that a woman can greet a man and a man can greet a woman when there is no fear of fitnah (temptation), for example, in the presence of elders or in gatherings of women and men or in the presence of mahrams. But if there is fear of fitnah, it is better to avoid greeting. Also, know that greeting is not obligatory but is Sunnah.
Final Word
Allah has created women with a completely different structure and characteristics from men; therefore, a woman is called entirely veiled, and her life should always prominently display modesty. This modesty should be reflected not only in clothing and attire but also in behavior, dealings, and speech. The above lines have outlined some important matters related to a woman’s way of walking; there may be other issues as well, but the basic points have been mentioned. Along with this, women should also be aware that they should not go outside wearing fashionable clothes, revealing clothes, or clothes associated with fame and immorality, as this will spread temptation and the woman will also be sinful. Similarly, they should not wear heeled sandals outside, laugh and joke unnecessarily while walking, speak loudly without necessity, walk while talking on the mobile phone, stop unnecessarily in crowds to greet and talk, or look unnecessarily towards men, as these are not appropriate for women. A woman should not imitate men, as this is a cause of curse.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال:” لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم المتشبهين من الرجال بالنساء، والمتشبهات من النساء بالرجال(صحيح البخاري:5885)
Translation: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed those men who imitate women in their behavior and those women who imitate men in their behavior.
A Muslim woman should not imitate any disgraceful or immoral trait of a disbelieving or immoral woman, and it should be known that a woman can go alone for a short distance, but if she has to travel to another place, it is not permissible to travel without a mahram (a male relative whom she cannot marry). In fact, even in times of necessity, a woman should not go alone to unsafe places, no matter how close the place is. Nowadays, even short distances are covered by vehicle, so a woman should sit separately from men in the vehicle. It is very regrettable to say that some women sit behind non-mahram men on motorcycles, which is not permissible.
I pray to Allah Almighty to grant Muslim mothers and sisters the ability to follow the religion, to adopt the Islamic hijab, and to be able to move around within the Islamic limits. Ameen.
