UmmTaymiyyah
Junior Member
Mixing Between Men & Women & Its Evil Consequences
Verily, the call for women to leave their homes and work in the arena of men leads to intermingling. It is the same whether this is openly mentioned or if it is cloaked under the title of a necessity as (it is said that) this is a necessity of in modern times and a requirement of societal advancement; it is still a very dangerous thing. Its nature is dangerous, its results are bitter, and its consequences are evil. Furthermore, it conflicts with the texts of Islaamic Law that order the woman to remain in her house and to do the work specified for her in the house. Whoever wishes to clearly understand the evil results of intermingling which are not insignificant, then look at those groups which are entangled in this great trial. Their entanglement either is by choice or coerced by their souls to do justice so that they are kept away from the truth by what is in fact the enemy of the truth.
Also, we find them grumbling on both the individual and group level for the yearning for the woman to escape from her house and to unshackle her, and we find that clearly stated on the tongues of many authors and indeed, in all of the forms of media. The result of which is the destruction of the society and the ruining of our daughters. There are clear, undeniable, authentic proofs that it is forbidden to be secluded with a foreign woman (i.e.: one who is permissible to marry), that it is forbidden to look at them. Allaah forbids all of the paths that lead to these things. The proofs are numerous and decisive that intermingling is forbidden. That is because it leads to a result, that which is not praiseworthy.
Allaah (ÓÈÍÇäå æ ÊÚÇáì) said:
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform the prayer, and give charity and obey Allaah and His Messenger (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã). Allaah wishes only to remove ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification. And remember (O you the members of the Prophet’s family, the graces of your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the verses of Allaah and al-Hikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah, legal ways, etc.). So, give your thanks to Allaah and glorify His Praises (for this Qur’aan and the Sunnah). Verily, Allaah is Most-Generous, All-Aware of all things.”
(Sooratul-Ahzaab 33:33-34)
Allaah (ÓÈÍÇäå æ ÊÚÇáì) said:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gazes and to protect their private parts and not to expose their beauty except for what is apparent and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms).”
(Sooratun-Noor 24:30-31)
Allaah ordered His Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) to inform the believing men and women that it is obligatory for them to lower their gazes and protect their private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, then He clarifies that this is more pure for them. It is known that protecting the private parts from unseemliness only occurs by staying away from the means to commit such acts. There is no doubt that not lowering the gaze and the intermingling between men and women in the places of work – as well as other places – is from the greatest of the menas that lead to unseemliness. It is impossible to obey these two commands (lowering your gaze and protecting your private parts) when you are working with a foreign woman (i.e. one permissible for you to marry) who is your co-worker or your partner at work. Subsequently, by her entering into these places of work with the men, and by the men entering into these places of work with the women, there is no doubt that these are from the affairs that make it impossible for them to lower their gazes and protect their private parts and obtain a level of purity for their souls.
On the authority of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) that the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“It is forbidden for you to enter upon the women.” So, a man from al-Ansaar said: “O Messenger of Allaah, can I see my sister-in-law?” He said: “The sister-in-law is death.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) from the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) who said:
“It is not permissible for a man to seclude himself alone with a woman unless he is a Mahram for her.” Therefore, a man stood and said: “O Messenger of Allaah! My wife left to make the pilgrimage and assisted during a couple of battles.” He said: “Go and perform the pilgrimage with your wife.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå), that a person from Banee Haashim went and saw Asmaa’ bint ‘Amees. So, Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq entered – she was his slave at that time – and saw them together, which he disliked. Therefore, he mentioned that to the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) by saying, “I did not see from them anything except what was good.” So the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“Verily, Allaah has freed her from blame for that.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) went on the pulpit and said: “No man shall enter upon a woman after this day unless there is another man or two men with him.”
(Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Umm Salamah (ÑÖí Çááå ÚäåÇ), that the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) was present with her while there was an effeminate man in the house. The effeminate man said to Umm Salamah’s brother ‘Abdullaah ibn Abee Umayyah, “If Allaah gives you victory in the conquest of Taa’if tomorrow, I suggest that you take the daughter of Ghaylaan because she shows four folds of flesh when she is facing you and eight when her back is to you.” So the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“Do not let this man enter upon you again.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Usaamah ibn Zayd (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) who reported that the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“There will not come a more dangerous test for the men who come after me than the women.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) from the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) who said:
“Verily, this world is sweet and green, and verily Allaah has put you all in charge of it to see what you will do. So, fear this world and fear the women. Verily, women were the first trial for Banee Israa’eel.”
(Saheeh Muslim)
The woman leaves the house, which is her kingdom and dashes out for what is essential in this life; and by doing so, leaves what has been established as her nature and her natural way that Allaah has set up for her. So, the call for the woman to enter into the arenas that are specifically for men is an affair which is a danger to the Islaamic Society and whose greatest effect is to force the intermingling between men and women. It is the greatest means to adultery and fornication, which kills the society and destroys its values and its character.
It is known that Allaah has assembled the woman in a particular way that is completely different than how He assembled the men. This makes it easy for her to accomplish her work inside of the house as well as the types of work that are specifically for her kind. The meaning of that is that when the women rushes into the arenas of work that are specifically for the men, she is leaving from that which she was made for, in addition to leaving her natural state. In that is a big crime against the woman, which kills her purpose in life and smashes her personality. This effects the next generation of male and female children because they are deprived of education, sympathy, and compassion since the one who does these jobs – which is the mother – has separated herself at her job and completely left her kingdom, and by doing so, it is impossible for her to find rest, stability, and peace of mind. Those communities that have drowned in this truth can bear witness to what we are saying.
Indeed, we have mentioned some of the legal Islaamic proofs and physical realities showing the prohibition of the women intermingling and joining in the work of the men and this proof is sufficient and persuasive enough to establish the truth. However, if we look at some people that have taken the words of men from the west and the east to heart more than they have taken to heart the words of Allaah and the words of the Muslim scholars, we desire to pass on to them the admissions of men from the east and west describing the evils of intermingling and its negative effects. That is because they are persuaded by that while they known what has come in this great Religion with respect to forbidding intermingling, in that it preserves the dignity of women and safeguards them from those ways that can be harmful to them and violate their honour.
The English Writer, Lady Cook said:
“Assuredly, men invented intermingling and it gives the woman desires that are opposed to her nature. Also, increased intermingling leads to increased children out of wedlock, which is a severe trial for women.” She went on to say: “Teach them to stay far away from men and inform them to be on the lookout for the results of this hidden evil plan.”
The Englishman, Samuel Smiles said:
“Without a doubt, the system that is in place that women enter the workplace was originated with the idea of improving the society. The result of this is the destruction of the foundation of the life at home. This is because it is an attack on the framework of the home and it demolishes the pillars of the family and shatters the connections between family members. The wives are separated from their husbands and the children are separated from their close relatives. The result is that a new type of woman develops with no result except for lowering her character. The job of the woman in truth is doing those jobs in the house, such as cleaning the house, bringing up the children, and economizing in the means of her life with doing those things that are necessary in the house.
However, joining the workforce separates her from all of these tasks as the houses become other than houses, the children are sacrificed, and they grow up without proper upbringing. They are cast away in neglected seclusion and the spousal compassion is extinguished for the man. She becomes his partner in work and labour and she becomes exposed to those influences which generally erase the humility of thought and character, which are those things that, to him, preserve her virtue.”
If we wish to examine what the Western writers have concerning the intermingling between men and women, which are the result of the women entering the arenas of work of the men, it would be extremely lengthy. These are just small signs that benefit us and are sufficient without the need for us to expound upon them.
Written by Umm Salamah as-Salafiyyah
Supporting the Rights of the Believing Women, pages 192-198
Verily, the call for women to leave their homes and work in the arena of men leads to intermingling. It is the same whether this is openly mentioned or if it is cloaked under the title of a necessity as (it is said that) this is a necessity of in modern times and a requirement of societal advancement; it is still a very dangerous thing. Its nature is dangerous, its results are bitter, and its consequences are evil. Furthermore, it conflicts with the texts of Islaamic Law that order the woman to remain in her house and to do the work specified for her in the house. Whoever wishes to clearly understand the evil results of intermingling which are not insignificant, then look at those groups which are entangled in this great trial. Their entanglement either is by choice or coerced by their souls to do justice so that they are kept away from the truth by what is in fact the enemy of the truth.
Also, we find them grumbling on both the individual and group level for the yearning for the woman to escape from her house and to unshackle her, and we find that clearly stated on the tongues of many authors and indeed, in all of the forms of media. The result of which is the destruction of the society and the ruining of our daughters. There are clear, undeniable, authentic proofs that it is forbidden to be secluded with a foreign woman (i.e.: one who is permissible to marry), that it is forbidden to look at them. Allaah forbids all of the paths that lead to these things. The proofs are numerous and decisive that intermingling is forbidden. That is because it leads to a result, that which is not praiseworthy.
Allaah (ÓÈÍÇäå æ ÊÚÇáì) said:
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform the prayer, and give charity and obey Allaah and His Messenger (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã). Allaah wishes only to remove ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification. And remember (O you the members of the Prophet’s family, the graces of your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the verses of Allaah and al-Hikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah, legal ways, etc.). So, give your thanks to Allaah and glorify His Praises (for this Qur’aan and the Sunnah). Verily, Allaah is Most-Generous, All-Aware of all things.”
(Sooratul-Ahzaab 33:33-34)
Allaah (ÓÈÍÇäå æ ÊÚÇáì) said:
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gazes and to protect their private parts and not to expose their beauty except for what is apparent and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms).”
(Sooratun-Noor 24:30-31)
Allaah ordered His Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) to inform the believing men and women that it is obligatory for them to lower their gazes and protect their private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, then He clarifies that this is more pure for them. It is known that protecting the private parts from unseemliness only occurs by staying away from the means to commit such acts. There is no doubt that not lowering the gaze and the intermingling between men and women in the places of work – as well as other places – is from the greatest of the menas that lead to unseemliness. It is impossible to obey these two commands (lowering your gaze and protecting your private parts) when you are working with a foreign woman (i.e. one permissible for you to marry) who is your co-worker or your partner at work. Subsequently, by her entering into these places of work with the men, and by the men entering into these places of work with the women, there is no doubt that these are from the affairs that make it impossible for them to lower their gazes and protect their private parts and obtain a level of purity for their souls.
On the authority of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) that the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“It is forbidden for you to enter upon the women.” So, a man from al-Ansaar said: “O Messenger of Allaah, can I see my sister-in-law?” He said: “The sister-in-law is death.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) from the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) who said:
“It is not permissible for a man to seclude himself alone with a woman unless he is a Mahram for her.” Therefore, a man stood and said: “O Messenger of Allaah! My wife left to make the pilgrimage and assisted during a couple of battles.” He said: “Go and perform the pilgrimage with your wife.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå), that a person from Banee Haashim went and saw Asmaa’ bint ‘Amees. So, Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq entered – she was his slave at that time – and saw them together, which he disliked. Therefore, he mentioned that to the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) by saying, “I did not see from them anything except what was good.” So the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“Verily, Allaah has freed her from blame for that.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) went on the pulpit and said: “No man shall enter upon a woman after this day unless there is another man or two men with him.”
(Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Umm Salamah (ÑÖí Çááå ÚäåÇ), that the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) was present with her while there was an effeminate man in the house. The effeminate man said to Umm Salamah’s brother ‘Abdullaah ibn Abee Umayyah, “If Allaah gives you victory in the conquest of Taa’if tomorrow, I suggest that you take the daughter of Ghaylaan because she shows four folds of flesh when she is facing you and eight when her back is to you.” So the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“Do not let this man enter upon you again.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Usaamah ibn Zayd (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) who reported that the Messenger of Allaah (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) said:
“There will not come a more dangerous test for the men who come after me than the women.”
(Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim)
On the authority of Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (ÑÖí Çááå Úäå) from the Prophet (Õá Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã) who said:
“Verily, this world is sweet and green, and verily Allaah has put you all in charge of it to see what you will do. So, fear this world and fear the women. Verily, women were the first trial for Banee Israa’eel.”
(Saheeh Muslim)
The woman leaves the house, which is her kingdom and dashes out for what is essential in this life; and by doing so, leaves what has been established as her nature and her natural way that Allaah has set up for her. So, the call for the woman to enter into the arenas that are specifically for men is an affair which is a danger to the Islaamic Society and whose greatest effect is to force the intermingling between men and women. It is the greatest means to adultery and fornication, which kills the society and destroys its values and its character.
It is known that Allaah has assembled the woman in a particular way that is completely different than how He assembled the men. This makes it easy for her to accomplish her work inside of the house as well as the types of work that are specifically for her kind. The meaning of that is that when the women rushes into the arenas of work that are specifically for the men, she is leaving from that which she was made for, in addition to leaving her natural state. In that is a big crime against the woman, which kills her purpose in life and smashes her personality. This effects the next generation of male and female children because they are deprived of education, sympathy, and compassion since the one who does these jobs – which is the mother – has separated herself at her job and completely left her kingdom, and by doing so, it is impossible for her to find rest, stability, and peace of mind. Those communities that have drowned in this truth can bear witness to what we are saying.
Indeed, we have mentioned some of the legal Islaamic proofs and physical realities showing the prohibition of the women intermingling and joining in the work of the men and this proof is sufficient and persuasive enough to establish the truth. However, if we look at some people that have taken the words of men from the west and the east to heart more than they have taken to heart the words of Allaah and the words of the Muslim scholars, we desire to pass on to them the admissions of men from the east and west describing the evils of intermingling and its negative effects. That is because they are persuaded by that while they known what has come in this great Religion with respect to forbidding intermingling, in that it preserves the dignity of women and safeguards them from those ways that can be harmful to them and violate their honour.
The English Writer, Lady Cook said:
“Assuredly, men invented intermingling and it gives the woman desires that are opposed to her nature. Also, increased intermingling leads to increased children out of wedlock, which is a severe trial for women.” She went on to say: “Teach them to stay far away from men and inform them to be on the lookout for the results of this hidden evil plan.”
The Englishman, Samuel Smiles said:
“Without a doubt, the system that is in place that women enter the workplace was originated with the idea of improving the society. The result of this is the destruction of the foundation of the life at home. This is because it is an attack on the framework of the home and it demolishes the pillars of the family and shatters the connections between family members. The wives are separated from their husbands and the children are separated from their close relatives. The result is that a new type of woman develops with no result except for lowering her character. The job of the woman in truth is doing those jobs in the house, such as cleaning the house, bringing up the children, and economizing in the means of her life with doing those things that are necessary in the house.
However, joining the workforce separates her from all of these tasks as the houses become other than houses, the children are sacrificed, and they grow up without proper upbringing. They are cast away in neglected seclusion and the spousal compassion is extinguished for the man. She becomes his partner in work and labour and she becomes exposed to those influences which generally erase the humility of thought and character, which are those things that, to him, preserve her virtue.”
If we wish to examine what the Western writers have concerning the intermingling between men and women, which are the result of the women entering the arenas of work of the men, it would be extremely lengthy. These are just small signs that benefit us and are sufficient without the need for us to expound upon them.
Written by Umm Salamah as-Salafiyyah
Supporting the Rights of the Believing Women, pages 192-198
(May peace and blessings be upon him) enforced separation of men and women even at Allaah’s most revered and preferred place, the mosque. This was accomplished via the separation of the women’s rows from the men’s; men were asked to stay in the mosque after completion of the obligatory prayer so that women will have enough time to leave the mosque; and, a special door was assigned to women. 
