Is it permissible for females to take private lessons from male tutors and vice versa? الدروس الخصوصية عند رجل

All praise is due to Allah alone, and may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.

To answer your question, we say while seeking the success from Allah:

It is obvious that the increase in resorting to private tutoring can be attributed to the poor education system, be it related to teachers or educational institutions, or students and their families, as many studies show. In general, the harm resulting from the spread of private tutoring is really bigger than the anticipated benefit. This harm is even more when the private tutor is male teaching females or female teaching males. The harm induced is not limited to the issue of being alone with a person from the opposite gender but rather extends to include behavior, religious and educational issues that experts and specialists are aware of. From the other issues that Islam does not approve are the closeness between the tutor and his or her students given the circumstances and environment gathering the students with their private tutors wherein soft talking, flirting and physical contact can take place. There is no exaggeration in these observations as there are many unfortunate incidents that happened under this kind of circumstances. That being said, I strongly advise parents, teachers and students not to take this matter lightly and if there is a need to have a private tutor then the tutor should be from the same gender of students.

I ask Allah to guide everyone to all that is good and protect our children, women and men from all evils, and guide them to success.

Your brother,

Prof. Khalid al-Musleh

12/3/1435H.