A café tables outside on a street where women pass

1-11-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I'm about to open a café and pizzeria, the café exists in the main street and then women use this street, by the way people who are sitting in the café look at women and also tables are placed in front of the café. Is this business Halal or not?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Opening a shop or a cafeteria on a main road used by women is allowed if there is no other reason that prevents doing it. Basically, indulging in all kinds of lawful businesses is permissible. Women passing by shops or roads are a common matter and it is almost impossible to get a road used for business where there are no women. However, men and women are both asked to abide by the rulings of Shariah like lowering their gaze from looking at opposite sex, etc. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms …}[24:30-31]. Allah knows best.