Condition:
You mentioned that a person cannot reform himself without a spiritual guide, and that the nafs cannot be overpowered until one is not under the supervision of a shaikh. What is the ruling for a woman, because it is not possible for her to remain in the company of a pious person or a shaikh?
Answer:
The shaikh is also a non-mahram for a woman. A woman is not
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٩﴾ إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾
Do not lose heart and do not grieve, and you will be victorious if you are believers. If wounds have afflicted you, similar wounds had afflicted the people (the disbelievers previously). Such days (of victory) We alternate among the people, so that Allah Ta‘ala may know those who believe and take some of you as martyrs – and Allah Ta‘ala does not like the oppressors. (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v139-140)
The Battle of Badr was the first major battle in Islam. In this battle, Allah Ta‘ala blessed the Muslims with decisive victory over the forces of falsehood, despite them being vastly outnumbered and facing an army that had superior weaponry and equipment.
The next major battle that followed was the battle of Uhud. In this battle, seventy Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) lost their lives and the Muslims did not enjoy the victory that they had enjoyed at Badr. Hence, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) naturally felt sorrowful and grieved thereafter.
The above verses of the Quraan Majeed were revealed by Allah Ta‘ala as
