Question Summary:
Some Questions one Women doing Bayah

Question Detail:

1)How can a women take bayt?
2)Does she need the permission of her husband/father.
3)In what way can she communicate with Sheikh?
4)Can she talk to him directly?
5)Can she look at him?
6)Is sheikh's wife like a mother to the mureed(male/female)?
7)Can the word "mother of the Believers " be used for any one other than the wifes(RA) of Prophet Muhammad(saw)?

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
 
1. Yes, it is allowed for women to take bai’ah.
 
2. No, she does not need permission in order to give bai’ah.  However, it is advisable for her to discuss it with them.
 
3. She may either write to him or speak to him over the phone.  If there is a need for her to speak to him in person, then she may do so while observing the rules of hijāb.
 
4. (Please see #3)
 
5. Muslim men and women should always strive to lower their gazes in accordance with the injunctions in the Qur’ān.  However, if there is a need for her to look at him and no fear of fitnah or sexual desires exists, then she may do so.
 
6. The Shaykh’s wife is not like a mother to the murīd.  All laws of hijāb must be maintained between the Shaykh’s wife and a male murīd.
 
7. Ummahāt al-Mu’minīn (Mother of the Believers) is a special term and honor for the wives of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.  It is not appropriate to include other women until the same title.
 
(فتاوى محمودية، كتاب السلوك والإحسان، ما يتعلق بالبيعة: 4/415-416؛ فاروقية)
 
(Heavenly Ornaments, “The Shaykh and the Murid,” vol. 2, pg. 136; Zam Zam)
 
ذكر الإمام أبو العباس القرطبي في كتابه في السماع ولا يظن من لا فطنة عنده أنا إذا قلنا صوت المرأة عورة أنا نريد بذلك كلامها لأن ذلك ليس بصحيح فإنا نجيز الكلام مع النساء للأجانب ومحاورتهن عند الحاجة إلى ذلك ولا نجيز لهن رفع أصواتهن ولا تمطيطها ولا تليينها وتقطيعها لما في ذلك من استمالة الرجال إليهن وتحريك الشهوات منهم ومن هذا لم يجز أن تؤذن المرأة ا هـ قلت ويشير إلى هذا تعبير النوازل بالنغمة
(رد المحتار، كتاب الصلاة، باب شروط الصلاة: 1/406؛ سعيد)
 
And Allah knows best
Wassalaamu `alaykum
Ml. Abrar Mirza,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah