Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslam Alaikum,

i am very touched with you work, it has truly given me plenty of knowledge.

i have a question relating to people at school.

i am 16 years old girl and i go to a public school. I was wondernig is it okay to allow guys to call me or i call them to ask for help on homework if somone else cannot help me? And if there was a study group for an exam or a test and it was all mixed guys and girls, but its in a library or a book store..is it okay to go?! And is it really bad to have guys as friends because if you go to public school , kids have to work in groups and all and it is better when you get to know everyone. 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Going to coed school

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, the natural physical attraction between two non-mehram members of the opposite sex is such that it is simply impossible for one to keep or hold a platonic relationship with each other…..therefore Islam guides towards the strict segregation of the sexes so that one does not even approach the boundaries of the abomination and heinous crime of ‘zina’ or unlawful sexual intercourse……for Allah forbid, if ever anything untoward were to take place, one would not only put their life, their honor, and their future in this world at severe risk, but also their well-being in their Hereafter would be in serious jeopardy.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 32:

Do not even go near ‘zina’ for it is a very indecent thing and a very evil way!

 

Thus my beloved sister, first and foremost, one should fear Allah and strive to obtain their education in institutions which segregate the sexes, if indeed they sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.   If that is not possible or available and one attends a co-ed institute of learning, then one should strive one’s utmost to guard oneself against the temptations of the Shaytaan, scrupulously honor the conditions of the ‘hijaab’, and make absolutely sure that one does not interact with members of the opposite sex unless and until one has an absolutely genuine and valid need…..for Allah is our witness sister, that would be akin to piety and righteousness in the Sight of the Lord All-Knowing, All-Wise.

 

To casually meet, talk or associate (or Allah forbid make friends) with non-mehram colleagues of the opposite sex, without an absolutely genuine and valid reason on the pretext of ‘homework’ or ‘study groups’ etc. would be a manifest violation of the boundaries of the Lord Most Majestic.

 

Youth is the age when one’s natural physical emotions are at its peak, and the evil and accursed enemy of man, the Shaytaan will miss no opportunity to exploit this condition and invite man towards the gross violations of the Laws of Allah Subhanah!  The more one fears Allah their Lord and the more one guards against the temptations of the Shaytaan, the further one will stay away from the Wrath and Anger of their Lord Creator.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan