1) Young Muslims - The Message

The mere presence of men and women in the same area is not agreat cause for temptation. It would be wrong to treat this asunlawful mixing, since the reason for prohibiting free mixing doesnot exist in such circumstances. If someone were to prohibit menand women from frequenting the same public places under thepretext of preventing temptation, this would be taking matters toan extreme and imposing a restriction that is unduly severe. Such apolicy is, moreover, unnatural and would impose great hardships onpeople's lives.At the same time, some circumstances are indisputably cases ofunlawful mixing. This would include situations where women andmen are crowded together so that there is a danger of their makingphysical contact. Equally unlawful would be any occasion whereunrelated women and men are seated next to one another. Underthese circumstances, desires are kindled and temptations aregreater and regrettable things happen, as is seen time and again inco-ed schools and mixed social events.The same can be said for any repeated acquaintance between menand women. Repeated meetings break down the barriers betweenmen and women and allow a relationship to develop betweenthem.We cannot compare situations like these to the general presence ofmen and women at shops and other open public places, especiallywhen women are accompanied by their family. In such cases, thereis no intimacy, no crowding, and no reason for suspicion. Preventingwomen from public places frequented by men in order to preventtemptation would be taking things to an extreme.A woman is commanded in Islam not to come too close to men. Sheis not, however, prohibited from going to places where men arepresent as long as she does not approach them or place herself in aposition where she is alone with them.Young Muslims, What they should know about Islam Page - 178