What is the ruling on having a honeymoon at a mixed summer resort?

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.

It is permissible to spend what is called a honeymoon, if the spouses observe the limits of Allaah The Almighty, which include the prohibition of intermixing between men and women and their presence in a place full of nakedness and immorality, because such behavior is very common at mixed summer resorts that encourage unlawful sexual relations.

Thus, it is forbidden for a Muslim to be in such places, as Allaah The Almighty allows intermixing between men and women only for necessity and with certain conditions and regulations that are stated in the Quran and the Sunnah. These regulations include the following:

-        The prohibition of uncovering the ‘Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered): Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {…and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands…} [Quran 24:31]

-        The obligation of lowering one’s gaze, to avoid seeing the ‘Awrah of men or women: Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allaah is Acquainted with what they do. * And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision…} [Quran 24:30, 31]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A man is prohibited to look at another man’s ‘Awrah, and a woman is prohibited to look at another woman’s ‘Awrah.” [Muslim]

-        Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]

There is no doubt that what happens in such places is worse than the exposure of adornment of the pre-Islamic times of ignorance, as people’s conduct there can only be described as nakedness.

Hence, any Muslim man or woman is forbidden from going to such places. They should not join the blessing of marriage with such shameful and prohibited behavior. ‎

Allaah Knows best.