Q: If a woman is in pardah (wearing a niqab) is it permissible for her to converse freely with a non mehram male?
A: Wearing a niqaab is one aspect of pardah. Conversing with males is another. In this, too, there is fitnah, and experience has shown that today even women behind veils end up in illicit relations or commit the actual sin of zinaa. Pardah is a holistic concept that demands total segregation from men barring cases of necessity. Purdah is not only veiling oneself, or donning hijaab. Our sisters should exercise special care in this regard.