I use bus to go to the school I teach in. It is around 20 km away from my home. While inside the bus, I try to sit sufficiently far from women and avert my gaze from them. There is another expensive form of transport which I can use to avoid women, but using it will consume around half of my salary. I can survive using the remaining salary though. Will I be sinful if I still use bus (while sitting far from women and not looking at them)?
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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
We ask Allah, The Almighty, to increase us and you in faith and determination in seeking to learn what is good, and to grant us resolve and firmness in holding onto the truth.
May Allah reward you for your keenness on asking about the Sharee‘ah rulings on matters that concern you, and your cautiousness of what incurs the displeasure of Allah, The Almighty.
There is no doubt that mixing between men and women in public transportation is a door to Fitnah (temptation) and a means to corruption. So avoiding it, as much as possible, is safer for one’s religiosity and honor.
Nevertheless, the mere presence of men and women together under one roof (in one place) is not considered prohibited intermixing unless it entails touching and physical contact among them, or engaging in joking and shameless jesting; in which case it is considered prohibited intermixing.
Accordingly, if you are going to sit away from women, refrain from engaging in unnecessary conversation with them, and you fear Allah, The Exalted, by lowering your gaze to the best of your ability, then there is no blame upon you for using such transportation. If you feel an inclination within yourself towards them, or fear for yourself to be tempted by them, then you should flee from those means of transportation the way you would flee from a lion and a leper. Indeed, being safe about one’s religion is of unrivalled value.
Allah Knows best.