Speaking with non-mahram women when necessary

Question

There is a narration in al-Bayhaqi that the curse of Allah is upon the one who casts a glance at a non-mahram and upon the one who wishes and longs for the glance of a non-mahram to fall upon him. (The said hadith was cited by Mawlana ‘Ashiq Ilahi Bulandshahri in “The Prophecies of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ”, p. 66.)

Answer

If the need arises to speak with a non-mahram, one should not speak looking eye to eye; one can also speak while keeping one’s gaze averted.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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