Q 8: Some Circassian Muslims who indulge in many Bid`ahs (innovations in religion) live in my area. All praise be to Allah Alone; Allah makes it easy for me to allocate one day a week to teach them matters of Din (religion). My question is whether it is permissible for me to teach girls especially the adult ones? What are the conditions of doing so? Besides, is it permissible for me to overlook some Bid`ahs and forbid them only on a gradual basis? (Part No. 2; Page No. 172

A: It is not permissible for a man to teach a woman who does not wear Hijab (veil). Moreover, it is not permissible for a man to teach a woman in Khulwah (being in privacy with a member of the opposite sex) even if she wears Hijab. It is worth mentioning that the woman's whole body is `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public) as far as non-Mahram (not a spouse or an unmarriageable relative) men are concerned. In addition, covering the head and exposing the face is not full Hijab.Nevertheless, it is permissible for men to teach women from behind a screen at schools where there is no free intermixing of males and females amongst the students or the teachers.You may thus teach the girls that you have mentioned in the question provided that you abide by the foregoing Islamic measures. If you do so, you will receive great reward from Allah for explaining religious matters to people and warning them against Bid`ahs and superstition are amongst the best deeds. According to authentic Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), anyone who guides people to do a good deed will get the same reward as theirs without their reward being decreased in any way. To be more specific, we will quote the Hadith which is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, Anyone who calls others to follow right guidance, their reward will be equivalent to those who follow them (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and anyone who invites others to follow error, their sin will be equivalent to that of the people who follow them (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect. (Related by Muslim). On the other hand, it is not permissible for you to disregard Bid`ahs or to adulate people who indulge in them. Rather, you have to manage this matter with wisdom and fair preaching while making Da`wah (calling to the way of Allah) and (Part No. 2; Page No. 173) you have to avoid harshness and cruelty. To sum up, you have to follow the way that you think is more suitable and effective for such people to accept Da`wah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.