Free Mixing in Islam

What is permissible and what is not?

How to avoid free mixing?

• Men and women are permitted to be in the same place. (i.e. shops, streets etc)
• Men and women should avoid situations where they are crowded together or seated together.
• Repetitive acquaintance should be avoided to prevent familiarity.
• Business like discussion between man and woman is permissible when necessary.

Why is it like this?

• Prevention of intimate relationships developing outside of marriage.
• Prevention of gossip and slander that can destroy relationships and families.
• Prevention of one party "falling in love" and being hurt.
• Prevention of children being born outside of marriage.
• Prevention of families being broken up.

The Evidence

Allah says: "Nor come nigh to adultery". [Quran 17:32]

Allah says: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them." and says: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty." [Noble Quran 24:30-31]

Allah says: "And when you ask the ladies for anything, ask them from behind a screen. That makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs." [Noble Quran 33:53]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade men and women from being alone together. He said: "Never is a man alone with a woman except that Satan is the third party with them." [Narrated by at-Tirmidhi #3118]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "Do not enter into the company of women." A man then asked him: "What about her male in-laws?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "The in-law (al-hamwu) is death (the most dangerous)". [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "It is better for one of you to be pierced by a steel pin in his head than to touch the hand of a strange woman." [Narrated by al-Thabrani in Mu'jam al-Kabir 20:211. Classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani]

Allah says: "Be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak with a speech (that is) proper." [Noble Quran 33:32].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Any woman who puts on perfume then goes and passes by some men to let them find her scent is a type of adulteress." [Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad & Tirmidhi]

Ummu Salamah said: "When the Prophet (peace be upon him) completed the prayer, the women would get up to leave. He would then wait awhile before standing." Ibn Shahab said: "I believe that he waited for a while to give the women an opportunity to depart before the men." [Narrated by Bukhari]

It was related in al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj that women at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not circumambulate the Ka'bah along with the men. Aisyah used to go around the Ka'bah at a good distance from the men and avoided mixing with them. Once another woman bade to her to go forward with her so they could touch the corner of the Ka'bah. Aisyah refused to do so and say, "You the only one who go". [Narrated by Bukhari]

One of Aisyah's handmaidens came to her and said: "O Mother of believers, I went around the Ka'bah seven times and touched the corner twice or trice". Aisyah replied: "May Allah not reward you for pushing your way through men. It would have been sufficient for you to you to say "Allah Akbar" as you passed by". [Narrated by asy-Syafie in his Musnad]