The Ruling on Mixed-Gender Mixing Advocated by Disbelievers, Hypocrites, and Followers of Desires

The Ruling on Mixed-Gender Mixing Advocated by Disbelievers, Hypocrites, and Followers of Desires

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. This world is filled with trials by which creation is tested, so that Allah distinguishes the impure from the pure and reveals who is best in deeds. Among these trials are desires to which people are naturally inclined, and the most dangerous trial for men is that of women.

("زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ")

“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire—of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:14, Sahih International)

In the authentic Sunnah: the Prophet ﷺ said, “I have not left after me any trial more harmful to men than women” (Bukhari), and he said, “Fear the world and fear women, for the first trial of the Children of Israel was in women” (Muslim).

Marriage as the Lawful Outlet

("وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ")

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Ar-Rum 30:21, Sahih International)

("وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا")

“And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphans, then marry those that please you of women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hands possess. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].” (An-Nisa 4:3, Sahih International)

The Prophet ﷺ said, “O young men, whoever among you can afford it should marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Prohibition of Zina and its Pathways

("قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ")

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.” (An-Nur 24:30, Sahih International)

("وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ")

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts…” (An-Nur 24:31, opening, Sahih International)

("وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَىٰ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا")

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” (Al-Isra 17:32, Sahih International)

The verse forbids even approaching zina, which includes its means and pathways. Its severity is shown by: (1) forbidding approach, (2) describing it as a gross indecency, (3) confirming that status, and (4) calling it an evil path. Hence it is among the major sins, with fixed penalties in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Legal Measures that Block the Means

The Sharia commands lowering the gaze, modest dress, and covering adornment. It forbids women from revealing what should remain hidden, even through suggestive movement.

("وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ")

“And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment.” (An-Nur 24:31, closing, Sahih International)

The Prophet ﷺ described senses and limbs that may lead to zina: the eye commits its zina by looking, the ear by listening, the hand by touching, the foot by walking, the heart desires, and the private parts confirm or deny (meaning: it is a warning about causes, not permission).

Speech, Seclusion, and Travel Rulings

("يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا • وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ")

“O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak in an appropriate manner. And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.” (Al-Ahzab 33:32–33, Sahih International)

Although addressed to the Mothers of the Believers, the meaning extends to all believing women. The Sharia also forbids seclusion with a non-mahram—“No man is alone with a woman but that the third of them is the devil”—and forbids a woman traveling without a mahram, as established in the authentic narrations.

On the Call to Mixing

("وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَنْ تَمِيلُوا مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا")

“And Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.” (An-Nisa 4:27, Sahih International)

Contemporary calls for unrestricted mixing imitate Western norms under slogans of “women’s freedom” and “rights,” which in practice aim to remove religious bounds on dress, work, relations, movement, and the husband’s guardianship. Sadly, such calls have achieved visible effects in sectors like health, media, airlines, parts of education, and entertainment.

Responses to Common Misuses

Citing the Sacred Mosque as proof is invalid. The norm is separate areas and women’s tawaf behind men; any mixing is due to necessity in peak seasons or poor individual conduct, and authorities work to reduce this. Markets are for necessities, not social mixing; they should be designed to prevent seclusion and crowding with oversight to curb wrongdoing.

Obligation of Authorities

("وَلَنْ تَرْضَىٰ عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ")

“And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.” (Al-Baqarah 2:120, Sahih International)

("وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَنْ تَمِيلُوا مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا")

“And Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.” (An-Nisa 4:27, Sahih International)

Preserving the religion is more obligatory than preserving lives and wealth. Authorities entrusted with the Muslim community must shield it from internal and external enemies who seek to dissolve its boundaries and spread immorality.

Conclusion

We ask Allah to guide our leaders to what He loves and is pleased with, to grant victory to His religion through them. Indeed, He hears supplications. And may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.