The impermissibility of men teaching strange women (Ajnabiyyāt) without any partition separating between the two

[Part 4] The detrimental effect of a single glance Imām al-Qurṭubi mentioned in his book 'Reminder of the Conditions of the Dead and the Affairs of the Hereafter' “It is narrated that in Egypt there was a man who was dedicated to the masjid and committed to announcing the Adhān and praying therein. Upon him was the splendor of worship and the radiance of obedience. One day he climbed up the minaret to announce the Adhān as usual, and beneath the minaret was a house belonging to a Christian Dhimmi, so he glanced inside and saw the house owner's daughter. He was allured by her and left off calling the Adhān, instead he climbed down to her and entered the house. She said to him: What is it with you, what do you want? He said: I want you. She asked: Why? He said: You have erased my mind and taken my heart. She said: I will not respond to your call to ludeness. He said to her: I will marry you. She said to him: You are a Muslim, and I am a Christian, and my father will not marry me to you. He told her: I will convert to Christianity. She said: If you do, I will accept. So he converted to Christianity in order to marry her, and he stayed with her in the house. During that day, he climbed on the roof of the house and fell off and died, thus, he lost his religion and did not attain what he wanted. So we seek refuge in Allāh. We seek refuge in Allāh from a bad outcome and a bad ending.” Points to take away: • This particular story may not be authentic, but there's no denying the fact that there are many incidents like it. • This story and its like offers a practical demonstration of the statement of the Prophet ﷺ, “I have not seen anyone deficient in intelligence and religion more able in leading a cautious sensible man astray than one of you (women).” [Bukhāri & Muslim] • If this is the effect of a single glance, imagine the effect of repetitive glances on a person's heart.