Umm Atiyyah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: We (womenfolk) were prohibited from accompanying a funeral procession, but we were not compelled (not to do so).[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
Women have been prohibited from walking along the bier so as to escape mixing with men. Yet, they have room for participation when there is no danger of mixing with men. Here, lack of a hardened stance means that women, if and when required, can walk side by side with the bier but not without meeting the prerequisites. The orthodox `Ulama', therefore, call this Shari`ah restraint by the name of (suggestive prohibition). (Fath Al-Bari).
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