Yahya said that Malik was asked, "Can a woman eat with other thanher relative or slave?" Malik said, "There is no harm in that if it isin a manner which is accepted for a woman to eat with men."

Malik said, "A woman sometimes eats with her husband and with othershe dines with or with her brother in the same way. It is disapprovedof for a woman to be alone with a man when there is no relationshipbetween them by blood, marriage or suckling that would prevent himmarrying her."