PURDAH (HIJAAB) & HONOUR
Even if the Shariah had not ordered purdah (hijaab), then too honour demands that others do not see a woman. Money is an inferior commodity. However, it is concealed from others and well-guarded. Woman deserves greater care and protection than money.
The Fuqaha are the wisemen of the Ummah. They have prohibited even salaam for young women, (i.e. a ghair mahram male should not even say ‘Assala-mu-Alaikum’ to young women). Even this act will incline a man towards her.
Male-female attraction is natural. It is, therefore, necessary to exercise extreme care in this matter. Some women are so audacious as to publish their names and even addresses with articles written by them. Observance of this caution is so necessary that some Fuqaha have ruled that a niece should remain aloof and far from her uncle. Although the uncle is her mahram, nevertheless, in order to choose a wife for his sons he will cast gazes at her (and in this is fitnah).
By the same token it is not permissible for a woman to eat the food or drink the water left over by a ghair mahram male (even if the male happens to be her shaikh). In fact, the Fuqaha say that it is not permissible to look even at the chaadar (outer-garments / jilbaab / burqah) of a ghair mahram female.
[MALFOOZAAT HAKEEMUL UMMAT]