Intermingling of Men and Women

19-9-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu Alaykum,Is there a definite scholarly consensus that intermixing between the two genders is prohibited if it involves any violation against the Sharee’ah? (For example, if it involves one of the following: improper dressing on part of the females, failure for males to lower the gaze, physical contact, flirting, etc.)

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Answer:

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, ﷺ, is His slave and Messenger.

We ask Allah to increase you in guidance and insight. It is well known that intermingling of men and women which involves forbidden matters — such as tabarruj (women's adornment and exposure before non-mahram men), unlawful gazing, or physical contact between unrelated men and women — is prohibited.

As for the consensus (ijma’) on its prohibition: consensus has been transmitted on the prohibition of ikhtilat that involves such forbidden matters.

Imam An-Nawawi said in his commentary on Sahih Muslim: “As for the rulings [derived from] this chapter; establishing the prohibition of a man looking at another man’s ‘ awrah and a woman looking at another woman's 'awrah — there is no dispute regarding this. Likewise, a man looking at a woman's 'awrah, and a woman looking at a man's 'awrah, is forbidden by consensus (ijma').” [End of quote]

Imam Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Wazir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in *al-Rawd al-Basim* (1/202): “And they have agreed unanimously on the obligation of hijab for women.” [End of quote]

Abu Bakr al-'Amiri (d. 530 AH) said in his book *Ahkam al-Nazar ila al-Muharramat* (Rulings on Looking at What Is Forbidden):

“What the Ummah has agreed upon, and what the scholars of the early and later generations — jurists and imams alike — have unanimously held to be forbidden, is non-mahram men and women looking at one another....” [End of quote]

Allah Knows best.