Is it permissible for me, a single woman in my twenties studying at the College of Engineering, to leave my studies and stay at home to draw closer to Allah and avoid mixing with strangers, knowing that my mother expects me to complete my studies? And is it sufficient for me to withdraw from a gathering upon hearing backbiting, if I am unable to rebuke the one engaging in backbiting, especially if he is a strange man?

It is recommended for a Muslim woman to supplicate frequently. There is no harm in pursuing academic studies with the intention of obtaining a job, and a Muslim will be rewarded for what benefits the community. While a woman’s staying in her home is preferable, it is permissible for her to go out for work or other purposes, provided Islamic guidelines are observed. It is permissible for a woman to enjoin good and forbid evil, provided she adheres to Islamic guidelines, and it is not obligatory to forbid all evils in public places, but rather what is possible. It is advisable to be keen on keeping the company of righteous women.