Is it permissible for women to go to markets

Q 1: Many young girls correspond with boys. They write in their letters things that I would not dare to write or mention. This phenomenon is widespread in our society. We earnestly hope that you do us the favor of writing a letter, supported with evidence, about how we should solve this problem. I have told many of them about how serious this matter is, but I cannot do much as I do not have deep knowledge. I failed to convince them despite my repeated attempts.

A: One of the essential aims of Shari‘ah (Islamic law) is to protect people’s lineage and honor. For this reason, Allah (Exalted be He) has forbidden Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) and ordered that it be punished by whipping or stoning. Allah (Exalted be He) has also forbidden the means that may lead to Zina, such as a man being alone with a non-Mahram woman (not a spouse or an unmarriageable relative); sinful looks and furtive glances; women traveling without a Mahram (spouse or permanently unmarriageable relative); women going out of their homes wearing perfume and make-up, clothed yet naked, to attract young men, provoke their desires, and tempt them away from their religion. All these are forbidden acts. This also includes a man speaking to a woman in a deceitful manner, and her speaking to him (Part No. 12; Page No. 381) in a soft voice that tempts him, provokes his desire, and makes him fall into her trap, whether this is done in person, over the phone, via correspondence, or by other means. For this reason, Allah (Exalted be He) forbade the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who are the chaste and pure women, to make a display of their adornment or beauty as women used to do in the former times of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance), or to speak in soft voices that provoke the desire of those in whose hearts is a disease, and He commanded them to speak in an honorable manner. Allah (Exalted be He) says: O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner. And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance Muslim youths must fear Allah (Exalted be He), protect their chastity, and lower their gaze. They should refrain from speaking or writing any obscene words of immoral romance or deceit. Muslim girls are obliged to do the same. They must remain chaste and not to go out wearing make-up and revealing clothes. It was reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There are two types of the denizens of Hellfire whom I have not seen yet: people with whips like the tails of cattle with which they beat the people; and women who are clothed yet naked, swaying and causing others to sway (i.e. Seduced and seducing), their heads looking like the humps of camels, tilted to one side. They will not enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance although its fragrance can be detected from such-and-such a distance. (Related by Ahmad in his Musnad and Muslim in his Sahih) (Part No. 12; Page No. 382) If young men and women obey Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger, and elevate themselves above worldly matters, keeping away from sources of Fitnah (temptation) and suspicions, this will be better for them, purer for their hearts, and safer for their reputations and societies. Allah is the One sought for help.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.