Ruling on Male Teachers Teaching in Girls' Madrasas and Exchanging Gifts with Female Students

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh: I would like to seek guidance from you respected scholars regarding certain matters related to madrasah al-banat (girls’ madrasas).
(1) In our country, most girls’ madrasas have only a few institutions where all the classes are taught exclusively by female teachers. In the majority of cases, either all the subjects are taught by male teachers or a few by male and the rest by female teachers.
While it is certain that male teachers deliver lessons from behind a veil (observing the rules of purdah), it has come to our attention—repeatedly and from multiple sources—that these male teachers often take attendance, listen to lessons, and even hear students recite texts directly, which seems to be common practice. Furthermore, there are reports that female students sometimes present gifts or homemade food to male teachers, later asking for their opinion on it and receiving compliments. Instances of light joking or laughter have also been reported. One of my own teachers mentioned that he attended a walimah (wedding feast) where some of the male teachers from a girls' madrasa were present and jokingly discussed their intentions to marry specific students. Similarly, girls seeing or recognizing their male teachers in public spaces has also been noted. These are just a few examples, and there are many other concerns that are difficult to express in writing. I believe you are already well aware of even more problematic scenarios than those listed here. What is the Shariah ruling on such matters? Also, what is the ruling on male teachers teaching female students, even if done from behind a curtain or in purdah? One elder even remarked: For so many years girls have been graduating as ʿalimat (Islamic scholars), is there still a need for men to teach girls? Would it not be better to close down the madrasa altogether than to endanger oneself or one’s children by possibly leading them down a path to Hell in the pursuit of someone else’s Paradise? Is this concern valid?
(2) What is the ruling regarding female students gifting outfits (or other gifts) to their male teachers at the end of the academic year?
(3) In some places, students are expected to invite both their male and female teachers to a meal at the end of the term. Even if the event is claimed to be completely in purdah, since many of the male teachers are quite young, does this not present a significant risk of fitnah (temptation/corruption)?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The concerns raised by the questioner appear to be speculative. To the best of our knowledge, girls’ madrasas generally observe appropriate precautionary measures. However, if in any madrasa there truly exists such informality between male teachers and female students that the boundaries of Shari‘ah are being neglected, then the administration of such institutions must take strict notice of it. As for female students, if they, out of reverence, present gifts or food to their teachers while observing the limits of Shari‘ah, or if male teachers arrange meals or hospitality for them within Shari‘ah guidelines, then such actions are not impermissible in Islam.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في تفسير ابن كثير: قال تعالى: وإذا سألتموهن متاعا فسئلوهن من وراء حجاب أي وكما نهيتكم عن الدخول عليهن كذلك لا تنظروا إليهن بالكلية، ولو كان لأحدكم حاجة يريد تناولها منهن، فلا ينظر إليهن ولا يسألهن حاجة إلا من وراء حجاب اھ (6/ 403)
وفى مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح: (عن عائشة عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال: تهادوا) بضم الدال أمر من التهادي بمعنى المهاداة أي: ليعط الهدية ويرسلها بعضكم لبعض ( «فإن الهدية تذهب الضغائن» ) جمع ضغينة وهي الحقد أي: تزيل البغض والعداوة وتحصل الألفة والمحبة كما ورد: «تهادوا تحابوا وتصافحوا يذهب الغل عنكم» على ما رواه ابن عساكر عن أبي هريرة، و في رواية له عن عائشة: «تهادوا تزدادوا» ، قال الطيبي: حبا ; وذلك لأن السخط جالب للضغينة والحقد، والهدية جالبة للرضا فإذا جاء سبب الرضا ذهب سبب السخط اھ (5/ 2013)
و في الدر المختار: ولا يكلم الأجنبية إلا عجوزا عطست أو سلمت فيشمتها لا يرد السلام عليها وإلا لا انتهى اھ (6/ 369) واللہ سبحانه و تعالی اعلم بالصواب