According to your remarks in a previous Fatwa, it is not permissible for men and women to mix. This Fatwa is based upon the assumption that there is Fitnah whenever a man and woman (non-Mahram) are together, but there is no basis for this in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Sahih Hadith states a man and woman cannot be alone, because the Shaitan will be the third party; but the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) did not say or instruct, that men and women could not mix, or that they cannot talk to each other, and this Hadith only refers to them being alone. Neither is there any proof that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said that a man could talk to a woman only if it is necessity; no such Hadith exists. There is no Hadith that says men and women cannot mix. Can you produce an argument to prove me wrong?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

At present, the meeting of both sexes in the workplace and at lectures is forbidden since there is not some forms of separation between the two sexes and the women are usually fully made up unveiling their charm in view of the opposite sex.

However, if there is a specific place for women (in the same area of meeting with men) and they are covered, modest, without sweet aromas, and the gathering is for a lawful purpose, then it is permissible. But conventional gatherings hardly meet the above conditions.

There are uncountable pieces of evidence prohibiting the intermixing of men and uncovered women or those who expose their beauty. Allah Says (what means): {… and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]

This ban proves the prohibition of such an act. Allah also prohibited women from displaying their beauty except to the unmarriageable male relatives. Allah Says (what means): {…and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers….} [Quran 24:31]

The Prophet said: “Any woman who applies perfume and passes by men who can smell her odor, she is an adulteress/fornicator.” [An-Nasaa'i and Ahmad]

The above prohibition shows clearly that mixing of both sexes is forbidden if women do not wear their Hijaab, or expose their beauty, or apply perfume. The Hadeeth proves that women in the presence of non-Mahram men should not use anything that could attract them.

Basically, women talking to men is permissible as long as it is free from attraction and speaking in a soft voice. Allah Says (what means): {…, then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, ….} [Quran 33:32]

Finally, we say to the questioner that talking and mixing with women without any necessity are among the dangerous means that lead to what is forbidden.

There are ample pieces of evidence establishing the fact that anything conducive to what is forbidden is itself forbidden. Everyone is ordered to block the ways that could lead to evils, so he is ordered to lower the gaze from looking at women, not to stay alone with a woman, and the whole body of a woman is considered ‘Awrah (i.e. it must be covered); all these instructions prove clearly that every action that could lead to what is forbidden is itself forbidden whether it is a talk or gaze.

For more benefit on mixing between men and women, please refer to Fataawa 206425, 90256, 217525, 375055, and 133843.

Allah knows best.