Dear Readers, As Salaamu Alaikum!
ALL PRAISES AND THANKS TO ALLAH, LORD OF THE WORLDS!!
Today's e-mail is the continuation on the topic of free mixing of the sexes which we discussed yesterday.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala made men to have a natural inclination towards women and gave them power over the females. He made women to be naturally inclined towards men though He made them weak and soft in nature. Hence, when free mixing occurs between women and (non-Mahram) men, its effects result in bad intentions, since the human self is inclined towards evil and (carnal) desires make a person blind and dumb, while Satan commands people to do indecent and evil things.The Islamic Law (Shari’ah) is based on objectives and the means to achieve them. The means for an objective have the same rulings as the objective itself. Women are the object of desire for men, and Islam blocks the doors leading to members of one sex becoming attached to the members of the opposite gender. Yesterday in our e-mail we discussed the evidence from the Qur'an. Today's e-mail will bring to you the evidence from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam
(continued from our e-mail yesterday..)
b) Proofs from the Sunnah
As for the evidence from the Prophet’s (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), words and actions:
1. Imam Ahmed narrated It was narrated that Umm Humayd the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa’idi came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I like to pray with you.” He said, “I know that you like to pray with me, but your prayer in your room is better for you than your prayer in your courtyard and your prayer in your courtyard is better for you than your praying in your house, and your prayer in your house is better for you than your prayer in the mosque of your people, and your prayer in the mosque of your people is better for you than your prayer in my mosque.” So she issued orders that a prayer-place be prepared for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she used to pray there until she met Allah (i.e., died).”
2. [Narrated by Ahmad(6/371), Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (no. 1689)and others]. Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The woman’s prayer (salah) most beloved to Allah is the one she offers in the darkest part of her home”
3. [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah (no. 1691, 1692) and Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam (2/35)]. There are many other narrations to this effect that it is better for a woman to pray at home than the mosque. Hence, because Islam advises women to pray at home and that it is better than even praying in the Prophet’s Mosque behind the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), himself, it free mixing should be forbidden with even more reason!
4. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), said, “The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.”
5. [Sahih Muslim (no. 440), Abu Dawud (no. 678), Al-Tirmithi (no. 224). Al-Tirmithi declared it authentic]. Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), told the women that if they came to the mosque, they should firstly remain separate from the worshiping men. Then he described their foremost rows to be worst and the last rows as the better ones. This was only to keep the women praying behind away from mingling with, seeing and having their hearts attached to the men in front of them on hearing voices or watching movements of the men. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), described the last rows of men as the worst if there were women in the mosque. The reason behind this is that men in the last rows missed being near the Imam (prayer leader) and instead found positions near the women who are a cause of distraction and may even spoil the prayers by making these men lose concentration and sincerity in worship. Hence, if the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), expected this to happen in a place of worship, then how about free mixing? Free mixing in which men and women are much closer!
6. Zainab, the wife of ‘Abdullah, reported: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), said to us: “When any one of you comes to the mosque, she should not apply perfume.”
7. [narrated by Muslim (no. 443), Ahmed (6/363)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), also said: “Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from visiting the mosques of Allah, but they may go out (to the mosque) having no perfumed themselves.”
8. [Ahmed (2/475) and Abu Dawud (no 565)]. Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed said “This indicates that it is forbidden for a woman who wants to go to the mosque to wear perfume, because this causes provocation of men’s desires, and it may even be a cause of provoking women’s desire (and sensuality)… The scholars also included other things under this heading of things to be avoided by women who want to go to the mosque, such as beautiful clothes, jewelery that can be seen and excessive adornments”. Ibn Hajar added, “and similarly, mingling with men.”
9. Usama bin Zaid reported Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) as saying: I have not left after me any (chance) of turmoil more injurious to men than the harm done to the men because of women.
11. [narrated by Al-Bukhari (no. 5069) and Muslim (2740)]. Since the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) described women as being a fitnah (temptation, trial) for men, how can the temptation and the temptable be placed together? This is not allowed!
12. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, " The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the (allurement of) women: verily, the first trial for the children of Israel was caused by women.”
13. [Sahih Muslim (no. 2742)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) made it obligatory upon Muslim men to avoid (non-Mahram) women. But how can we act on this hadith in the presence of free mixing? This is impossible, hence free mixing of the sexes is forbidden.
14. Abu Usayd Al-Ansari said he heard the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) say when he was coming out of the mosque, and men and women were mingled in the road: ‘Draw back, for you must not walk in the middle of the road; keep to the sides of the road.’ Then women were keeping so close to the wall that their garments were rubbing against it.
15. [Abu Dawud (no. 5272)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade them from walking in the middle of the road since it leads to temptation, then how can one permit mingling in other places?
16. It is narrated from ‘Umar that when the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) built the mosque, he made a door for women and said, “Men should not enter from this door.”
17. [Abu Dawud Al-Tialisi in his Sunan (no. 1829) and Al-Bukhari in his Al-Tarikh Al-Kabir (1/60)].Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade men and women to mingle with each other when entering and exiting the doors of the mosque by forbidding them to use the same doors. This prohibition was enforced to block the means to free mixing. If free-mixing between the sexes is forbidden in such a condition, it should be forbidden at other places too with all the more reason!
18. Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “Whenever Allah’s Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) finished his prayers with Taslim (saying salam at the end of prayers), the women would get up and he would stay on for a while in his place before getting up.”
19. In another narration, the words are: “When the Prophet finished the prayer with Taslim, the women would depart and enter their houses before Allah’s Apostle departed.”
20. In the third narration in Bukhari from her, “In the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) the women used to get up when they finished their compulsory prayers with Taslim. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and the men would stay on at their places as long as Allah will. When the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) got up, the men would then get up.”
21. [Sahih Al-Bukhari (no. 849)]. Here, we see that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) prevented mixing between men and women by his action. This action cautions us against free-mixing between the genders in places other than the mosque as well.
22. Mi’qal Bin Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) “If the head of one of you is pierced with an iron needle, it is better for him than to touch a woman who is not legal for him (to touch).” [Narrated by Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir (20/213), Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf (4/341) and the narrators were declared trustworthy by Al-Haytami and Al-Mundhiri].
24. Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)that he said, “It is better for man to press (against himself) a pig smeared with clay and mud, than to press his shoulder against the shoulder of a woman not legal for him (to touch).” [Al-Tabarani 4/326, though Al-Mundhiri said that a narrator in the chain is extremely weak].
25. Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade men from touching women (and vice versa), whether with or without a barrier (like a cloth etc) if he is not her Mahram due to its evil consequences. So, free mixing between the sexes too is forbidden for the same reason.
Conclusion:
A person who ponders on the evidence presented by us will clearly see that the opinion that free mixing among men and women does not lead to fitnah (trials, temptation) is a figment of imagination of a few people. However, in reality, it does lead to fitnah and that is why Islam forbade from it; in order to nip the evil in the bud. The special circumstances which are due to necessity or extreme need in places of worship, e.g. the mixing of men and women in the Grand Mosque at Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina are exceptions to the rule. We ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to guide the misguided among the Muslims and to increase the guidance of those Muslims who are guided. We ask Allah to make the Muslims rules to do good, leave evil and physically stop the foolish people. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, Near (by His Knowledge) and Responsive!
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Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala made men to have a natural inclination towards women and gave them power over the females. He made women to be naturally inclined towards men though He made them weak and soft in nature. Hence, when free mixing occurs between women and (non-Mahram) men, its effects result in bad intentions, since the human self is inclined towards evil and (carnal) desires make a person blind and dumb, while Satan commands people to do indecent and evil things.The Islamic Law (Shari’ah) is based on objectives and the means to achieve them. The means for an objective have the same rulings as the objective itself. Women are the object of desire for men, and Islam blocks the doors leading to members of one sex becoming attached to the members of the opposite gender. Yesterday in our e-mail we discussed the evidence from the Qur'an. Today's e-mail will bring to you the evidence from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam
(continued from our e-mail yesterday..)
b) Proofs from the Sunnah
As for the evidence from the Prophet’s (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), words and actions:
1. Imam Ahmed narrated It was narrated that Umm Humayd the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa’idi came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I like to pray with you.” He said, “I know that you like to pray with me, but your prayer in your room is better for you than your prayer in your courtyard and your prayer in your courtyard is better for you than your praying in your house, and your prayer in your house is better for you than your prayer in the mosque of your people, and your prayer in the mosque of your people is better for you than your prayer in my mosque.” So she issued orders that a prayer-place be prepared for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she used to pray there until she met Allah (i.e., died).”
2. [Narrated by Ahmad(6/371), Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (no. 1689)and others]. Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The woman’s prayer (salah) most beloved to Allah is the one she offers in the darkest part of her home”
3. [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah (no. 1691, 1692) and Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam (2/35)]. There are many other narrations to this effect that it is better for a woman to pray at home than the mosque. Hence, because Islam advises women to pray at home and that it is better than even praying in the Prophet’s Mosque behind the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), himself, it free mixing should be forbidden with even more reason!
4. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), said, “The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst ones the last ones, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.”
5. [Sahih Muslim (no. 440), Abu Dawud (no. 678), Al-Tirmithi (no. 224). Al-Tirmithi declared it authentic]. Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), told the women that if they came to the mosque, they should firstly remain separate from the worshiping men. Then he described their foremost rows to be worst and the last rows as the better ones. This was only to keep the women praying behind away from mingling with, seeing and having their hearts attached to the men in front of them on hearing voices or watching movements of the men. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), described the last rows of men as the worst if there were women in the mosque. The reason behind this is that men in the last rows missed being near the Imam (prayer leader) and instead found positions near the women who are a cause of distraction and may even spoil the prayers by making these men lose concentration and sincerity in worship. Hence, if the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), expected this to happen in a place of worship, then how about free mixing? Free mixing in which men and women are much closer!
6. Zainab, the wife of ‘Abdullah, reported: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), said to us: “When any one of you comes to the mosque, she should not apply perfume.”
7. [narrated by Muslim (no. 443), Ahmed (6/363)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), also said: “Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from visiting the mosques of Allah, but they may go out (to the mosque) having no perfumed themselves.”
8. [Ahmed (2/475) and Abu Dawud (no 565)]. Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed said “This indicates that it is forbidden for a woman who wants to go to the mosque to wear perfume, because this causes provocation of men’s desires, and it may even be a cause of provoking women’s desire (and sensuality)… The scholars also included other things under this heading of things to be avoided by women who want to go to the mosque, such as beautiful clothes, jewelery that can be seen and excessive adornments”. Ibn Hajar added, “and similarly, mingling with men.”
9. Usama bin Zaid reported Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) as saying: I have not left after me any (chance) of turmoil more injurious to men than the harm done to the men because of women.
11. [narrated by Al-Bukhari (no. 5069) and Muslim (2740)]. Since the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) described women as being a fitnah (temptation, trial) for men, how can the temptation and the temptable be placed together? This is not allowed!
12. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, " The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the (allurement of) women: verily, the first trial for the children of Israel was caused by women.”
13. [Sahih Muslim (no. 2742)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) made it obligatory upon Muslim men to avoid (non-Mahram) women. But how can we act on this hadith in the presence of free mixing? This is impossible, hence free mixing of the sexes is forbidden.
14. Abu Usayd Al-Ansari said he heard the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) say when he was coming out of the mosque, and men and women were mingled in the road: ‘Draw back, for you must not walk in the middle of the road; keep to the sides of the road.’ Then women were keeping so close to the wall that their garments were rubbing against it.
15. [Abu Dawud (no. 5272)]. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade them from walking in the middle of the road since it leads to temptation, then how can one permit mingling in other places?
16. It is narrated from ‘Umar that when the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) built the mosque, he made a door for women and said, “Men should not enter from this door.”
17. [Abu Dawud Al-Tialisi in his Sunan (no. 1829) and Al-Bukhari in his Al-Tarikh Al-Kabir (1/60)].Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade men and women to mingle with each other when entering and exiting the doors of the mosque by forbidding them to use the same doors. This prohibition was enforced to block the means to free mixing. If free-mixing between the sexes is forbidden in such a condition, it should be forbidden at other places too with all the more reason!
18. Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “Whenever Allah’s Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) finished his prayers with Taslim (saying salam at the end of prayers), the women would get up and he would stay on for a while in his place before getting up.”
19. In another narration, the words are: “When the Prophet finished the prayer with Taslim, the women would depart and enter their houses before Allah’s Apostle departed.”
20. In the third narration in Bukhari from her, “In the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) the women used to get up when they finished their compulsory prayers with Taslim. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and the men would stay on at their places as long as Allah will. When the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) got up, the men would then get up.”
21. [Sahih Al-Bukhari (no. 849)]. Here, we see that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) prevented mixing between men and women by his action. This action cautions us against free-mixing between the genders in places other than the mosque as well.
22. Mi’qal Bin Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) “If the head of one of you is pierced with an iron needle, it is better for him than to touch a woman who is not legal for him (to touch).” [Narrated by Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir (20/213), Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf (4/341) and the narrators were declared trustworthy by Al-Haytami and Al-Mundhiri].
24. Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)that he said, “It is better for man to press (against himself) a pig smeared with clay and mud, than to press his shoulder against the shoulder of a woman not legal for him (to touch).” [Al-Tabarani 4/326, though Al-Mundhiri said that a narrator in the chain is extremely weak].
25. Hence, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) forbade men from touching women (and vice versa), whether with or without a barrier (like a cloth etc) if he is not her Mahram due to its evil consequences. So, free mixing between the sexes too is forbidden for the same reason.
Conclusion:
A person who ponders on the evidence presented by us will clearly see that the opinion that free mixing among men and women does not lead to fitnah (trials, temptation) is a figment of imagination of a few people. However, in reality, it does lead to fitnah and that is why Islam forbade from it; in order to nip the evil in the bud. The special circumstances which are due to necessity or extreme need in places of worship, e.g. the mixing of men and women in the Grand Mosque at Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina are exceptions to the rule. We ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to guide the misguided among the Muslims and to increase the guidance of those Muslims who are guided. We ask Allah to make the Muslims rules to do good, leave evil and physically stop the foolish people. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, Near (by His Knowledge) and Responsive!
by Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim
Translated by Abu Maryam Bilal
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