Talking to non-Mahram online to learn language

10-9-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum, Brother. I have a question and a request for you; please do not suggest other related fatwas, Shaykh. There is a website where people practice/learn English with their language partner. I am also learning English there and have found a female language partner. Is it halal for me to communicate with her just for practice? I do not see her face. She is from another country and is Muslim as well.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

Talking to a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman is a great door of temptation and a means that leads to corruption.

Al-Khaadimi from the Hanafi School of Fiqh, said in his book Bareeqah Mahmoodiyyah, “Speaking to a non-Mahram girl is not permissible without a need, because it is believed that this would lead to temptation.”

Learning English or any other language can be achieved by several other legitimate means that are available without being subjected to temptation. So you must beware of the tricks of Satan; Allah says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.} [Quran 24:21]

The reality proves that it is nearly impossible to be safe in one’s religion if one violates this Divine Guidance.

The religion of a Muslim is his capital in life. It is far more precious than to be neglected for this matter of learning a language. Indeed, being safe in one’s religion is of unparalleled value.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 337630.

Allah knows best.