A little more than two years ago, a fatwa was attributed to the Noble Shaykh Saalih ibn Muhammad al-Luhaydaan (May Allaah preserve him) wherein he permitted Muslims
to attend mixed gender universities, and that he said that it is
allowed for men and women to mix in this sort of environment, as a
matter of necessity. Clarification was sought from the Shaykh, only to realize that he made his ruling in a very limited circumstance for a particular situation. However, this fatwa was then falsely applied in an absolute way, to any general situation, causing much confusion in the west amongst Muslim communities. Our noble brother Abu Ismael Mustafa George (May Allaah preserve him) has compiled this excellent treatise translating many of the fatawaa of the scholars from the past to the present on this issue. Mustafa George states in his introduction,
“The purpose of this compilation is to remind myself and the English speaking Muslim
community of the tremendous dangers that free mixing has upon the
believing men and women as well as the community as a whole. A clear
explanation and justification of why Islaam has forbidden such free mixing is present in the abundant proofs from the Qur’aan, the authentic Sunnah and the statements of the Salaf.”
After careful examination of this ebook, the reader will be left with a vividly clear understanding of this issue, inshaaAllaah ta’alaa.
An excerpt taken from the chapter: “The Proofs For The Impermissibility of Mixing From The Glorious Qur’aan”:
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى
لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ
{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 gaze (from looking at
forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual
acts etc.)…}
Shaykh Muhammad Ameen ash-Shinqeetee (rahimahullaah) commented:
“From the Qur’aanic proofs which support the impermissibility of mixing between men and women is the fact that Allaah has ordered the two sexes to lower their gaze from one another….thus if one were to ponder over these religious, upright mannerisms that are mentioned in these verses, he would become aware that the callers to indecency and mixing between men and women have opposed these verses with a devilish philosophy and they conceal behind this the intent of losing dignity and chastity.”
Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) commented on the above verse saying:
“In this verse Allaah orders His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to inform the believing men and women that it is mandatory for them to lower their gaze and protect their private parts from fornication and adultery. From that which is known is that protecting one’s private parts from evil can only be accomplished when one also abandons all avenues of falling into such evil. Mixing between men and women is one of the greatest means of this evil occurring.”
He (Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Ibn Baaz) also stated:
“From that which is known is that protecting the private parts from evil acts can only be accomplished when an individual abstains from all actions that lead to evil and certainly, looking at that which is not permissible and mixing between men and women in workplaces and other than this is one of the greatest means of falling into evil actions. Consequently, how is it possible that one can lower his gaze and protect his privates and a female cover her beauty if she has joined the men and mixed with them ?!”
[Download PDF Here] or [Here] Ruling on Muslims Attending Mixed Universities Translated and Compiled by Mustafa George DeBerry
Wa Billaahi TawfeeqWa SallAllaahu wa Sallaama wa Barak ‘alaa Nabiyanna Muhammad wa ‘alaa ‘Alyhi wa Sahbyhi wa Sallam
http://mpubs.org/index.php/manhaj/248-ebook-the-ruling-on-muslims-attending-mixed-universities-translated-and-compiled-by-mustafa-george-deberry
