Fatwa: 18

Category: medical fatwas

The nursing of a man by a woman

The question:

We hope that our Sheikh Abu `Abd Al-Mu`iz –May Allah protect him and make him useful- will help us by answering a question related to the ruling concerning nursing men by a nurse, also concerning giving people injections if there is no man to do it in the clinic.

Benefit us with a detailed and convincing answer and may Allah reward you with good.

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

In principle, it is forbidden for a woman to mingle with men. Moreover, there are proofs that it is not permissible to show one’s `Aura (private parts), except in some cases of necessity, need or utility established by the Sharia, on the condition of being safe from temptation and without being in a Khulwa<sup>(1)</sup>. Besides, the woman should also observe good manners and abide by the rulings of the Sharia as regards her clothing, adornment and her looking at a stranger and the looking of a stranger to her, and in case there is no man who can perform such task. This is supported by what was reported by Al-Bukhâri according to Ar-Rubayyi` Bint Mu`awwidh who said: “We were in the company of the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم providing the wounded (fighters) with water and treating them and bringing the killed (from the battle field) to Medina”<sup>(2)</sup> and what Al-Bukhâri also reported: “That `Âisha and Ummu Sulaym رضي الله عنهما were carrying the water skins on their backs, then they would pour the water in the mouths of the people. Then they would return to fill the water skins again and come back again to pour water in the mouths of the people”⁽³⁾. Such actions, which are related to jihad and by which interests related to Sharia are fulfilled, are permissible for women in spite of their mingling with men. In “Sahîh Muslim”, Anas Ibn Mâlik narrated that “The Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم used to let Ummu Sulaym and some other women of the Ansar accompany him when he went forth to Jihad. They would provide (the soldiers) with water and treat the wounded people”⁽⁴⁾. Besides, there may be a need or a utility in mingling between men and women like serving the guests; it is reported in the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhâri that “When Abu Ussayd As-Sâ`idi got married, he invited the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم and his Companions. None prepared and brought the food for them but his wife Um Ussayd.”⁽⁵⁾

That being said, know that it is not permissible for a woman to disclose her `Aura for a doctor or someone instead of him if there is a female doctor on behalf of him. If the woman discovers her private parts, it is permissible for her to discover only the needed amount, as it is stated by As-Suyûti and Ibn Nujaym in “Al-Ashbâh Wan-Nadhâ'ir” in accordance with the jurisprudential rule stipulating that: “Necessities should be evaluated in a proper manner”.

Furthermore, if a woman gets ill and her illness is not dangerous, but it causes a sharp and constant pain to her, then it is permissible for her to disclose her `Aura to a woman doctor or to a male doctor when there is no female doctor, if her recovery depends on the disclosure of her `Aura, as the need can have the status of a necessity, whether in a general or specific manner. In addition, covering one’s private parts is ameliorative⁽⁶⁾, whereas removing the constant pain is needful, and the needful takes absolutely precedence over the ameliorative. However, if the pain is minor and usual, it is not permissible to discover the `Aura as the degree of removing the pain and covering the private parts is equal, as both of them are ameliorative, though covering the private parts takes precedence over the pain, because “Prohibition is given precedence over permission” and the women and the men are subject to the same rulings, in accordance with the Prophet’s صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم saying: “Women are the twin halves of men”⁽⁷⁾ and this, if there is no specifying proof.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.