The Prohibition against Being Alone with an Unrelated Woman

When you ask something of them (his wives), ask them from behind a screen. (al-Ahzab 3:53)

782. Uqba ibn Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of visiting women!” A man of the Ansar said, “What do you think about in-laws?” He said, “In-laws are death!” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Nikah, 111; Sahih Muslim, Salam, 20).
Annotation: The hadith tells believers to shun from staying alone with women not accompanied by any people from her next of kin. If the man has somebody like his own sister or aunt in company, then it is permitted for them to be in the same place.

 

Nawawi, Imam. Riyad As-Salihin; The Gardens of the Righteous: A collection of authentic hadiths. Tughra Books Press, Inc. 2014