Answer: Yes, she can. However, she should speak to her non-Maḥram spiritual guide (or any other non-Maḥram male in case of necessity) in a dull and non-soft tone, her manner of speech should not be informal. (Taken from Rad-dul-Muḥtār, vol. 2, pp. 97)
Fulfilling these requirements is very difficult, therefore, it is better if she conveys her problems to her spiritual guide via a Maḥram male. A female disciple is not even allowed to speak to her non-Maḥram spiritual guide unnecessarily. For example, they cannot even talk only to say Salām and enquire about each other’s health etc. because this is not necessary.
Question: Can an Islamic sister answer a phone call made by a non-Maḥram man?
Answer: Yes, but with the same precautions. In other words, she must not speak softly. Instead of repeating ‘hello’ again and again softly she should ask ‘who is it?’ in a blunt voice.
This is actually quite a delicate situation because it is possible that the male on the receiving end of the phone wants to speak to a man of the house and leaves his name and message and wants you to tell him an appropriate time to phone back. Also, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid, he could get offended by a bashful and practising Islamic sister’s blunt tone, and if he is ill-mannered due to being ignorant of Islamic rulings, he might react rudely. Some Islamic brothers have explained their experiences of speaking to non-Maḥram women on the phone in a blunt and non-soft voice and hearing such responses from them, ‘Maulānā! Why are you getting angry!’
Anyhow, it is safest to use an ‘answering machine’ with this message recorded in a male voice, ‘Please record your message’. Later, the