A woman having Khulwah with the merchant in a store

Q 3: Sometimes, a woman may have to be alone with a merchant in a store when buying necessities. What is the ruling on this according to the Shari`ah (Islamic law)?

A: It is not permissible for a woman to have Khulwah (being alone with a member of the opposite sex) with a non-Mahram man (not a spouse or an unmarriageable relative); not in stores and not in any other places. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No man should be alone with a woman, for the third of them is Satan." May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.