Teachers, men and women, to sit together at school

Q 1: My wife and I are religiously committed - praise be to Allah. I am also a seeker of knowledge and ask Allah (Exalted be He) to grant me sincerity in intention and action. We are from Egypt and reside in Al-Ahsa'. My term of employment expires at the end of the year, and we shall return soon to Egypt. My wife and I are teachers, but I am very anxious about a problem with my wife's work. Women mixing with men is allowed in our country. (Part No. 12; Page No. 161) Although there are specific schools for girls and others for boys, the teachers are chosen from both genders. The problem is that the female teachers are not assigned to the girls' classes. On the other hand, thanks to Allah (Exalted be He), the Da`wah (calling to Islam) that targets women is spreading rapidly; there is a remarkable increase in the number of religiously committed women who are still in need of guidance. Shall I allow my wife who wears the Islamic Hijab (veil) and is keen not to deal with men, to work in girls' schools for the sake of Da`wah? These schools help women to avoid mixing with men as they have a separate room for women where they can stay during the times when they are not teaching. Or shall I let her stay at home and leave this career to other women whose appearance goes against Shari`ah and can be a bad example for girls to follow? Would you please help me in this regard; should she stay at home or may she go out to work and perform Da`wah? The female sector represents a great percentage in a country like Egypt.

A: If the case is as you have mentioned that men and women are mixing in the school, a woman is not allowed to teach in this school. This work may lead her to mix with men which is forbidden in the Purified Shar` (Law). It was established that mixing and Khulwah (being alone with a member of the opposite sex) include evil, and (Part No. 12; Page No. 162) whoever fears Allah (Exalted be He) and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!