Question Summary:
It is harām for a male to teach girls of six years and over?

Question Detail:

A South African Mufti wrote on the topic of sexual molestation of little girls in madaaris and issued a fatwa that "It is HARAAM for a male to teach girls of six years and over even if the teacher has the countenance of a Buzrug." He says this age limit was mentioned by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi. Please clarify this. How was this age limit (of 6 years) decided, and is this hurmat only due to khalwa happening between the teacher and the girl, or is it haram under any and all conditions?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
This is the opinion of Mufti A.S. Desai (dāmat barakātuh), a senior Ālim of South Africa. If you require further clarification on his fatwā, you may contact him directly at the following address:
http://www.themajlis.co.za/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=54
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Mohammad
Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net