Directions for sisters when foreign (unlawful) men initiate the Salaam or conversation in the street

Question:

One of the sisters wants to know the legislated ruling and the correct approach in accordance to the Sunnah, if she happens to come in contact with a foreign (unlawful) Muslim man in the street that gives Salaam, taking to account she adheres modesty and she replies most of the time with a lowered voice, and sometimes only when she’s at a distance from them.

She recently encountered an upsetting situation where one man got angry because she didn’t respond to the Salaam in a voice that he could hear. He then raised his voice at her and spoke to her with harshness, and he didn’t give her a chance to explain why she did so.

She’s asking:

– Is a woman required to respond to the Salaam of a foreign (unlawful) man to her?

– Is it permissible for her to respond in a lowered tone of voice?

– If a man doesn’t hear her response to the Salaam, is she then required to repeat it with a higher tone of voice?

– And what does she do if a man gets angry or is bad towards her due to a situation like that?

May Allah reward you with good and bless you.

Answer:

If she leaves her house for a necessary need, she’s required to adhere to shyness and modesty and not to speak to any foreign man to her; neither initiating conversation, nor responding.

Answered by: Shaykh Abu Hamza Hassan bin Muhammed Ba Shu’ayb (may Allah preserve him)

Source : https://t.me/bashuaiben/4851

Translated by: Abu Mālik Nāsir bin Rāshid Al-Ma’mary