What is the ruling on men and women meeting to discuss a topic or problem related to Da‘wah (call to Islam)? The situation is as follows: many young women and many young men attend, who adhere to the regulations of mixing, such as avoidance of jesting and soft speech, lowering the gaze, adhering to etiquettes and avoiding talk about personal affairs. I need to know the basis of the ruling.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The participation of Muslim women in education, Da‘wah, and reformation according to their ability is an obligatory matter under Sharee‘ah (Islamic law). Women are as responsible for this religion as men, according to what is obligatory upon them. Women gave a perfect example in applying this during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They participated in education, Da‘wah, Jihaad (armed struggle), issuing Fatwas (religious verdicts), enjoining good and forbidding evil.

Despite the fact that this bright era was the era of virtue, chastity and modesty, it is not narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered the Companions, males and females, to gather in a house in order to discuss the affairs of Islam. However, women used to pray behind the rows of men in the mosque and during the prayers of (the two) ‘Eeds.

Other meetings were not attended by women, although they too needed to listen to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, they asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to specify a day for them to teach them. Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri said, “Some women requested the Prophet to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that, he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments.” [Al-Bukhari]

Hence, women did not demand to compete with men and hold meetings with them. Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not ask them to attend the meetings of men. This was the custom of the Muslims until the contemporary age, when the traditions and customs of the West were imported. Some Muslims surrendered before the culture of the West, which calls for intermixing with women and their participation with men in all fields.

In a nutshell, you— men and women— should not meet to discuss Da‘wah related matters, in order to eliminate the means that lead to unfavorable results and to follow the guidance of the righteous predecessors. Although these mixed meetings are regulated by adhering to Hijab (Islamic covering) and avoidance of soft speech, they are not appropriate for those who adhere to the Islamic teachings. If the goal behind such meetings is to consult women and know their opinion, this can be fulfilled by any other means. For example, a woman who is a Mahram (non-marriageable) for any man in the meeting could be a messenger between men and women. Hence, we achieve the goal while adhering to the teachings of Islam.

Allaah Knows best.