Addressing Mixed Gatherings

Firstly, we would like to mention that our reply herewith should be taken sincerely in order to educate and acquaint one’s self of the correct Shar’ie perspective, so that one may implement what is Haqq/Truth in one’s own personal life and educate others about it as well. This should not be used as a means of causing Fitnah/trouble among those who hold the opposite view. Instead, one should make Du’aa that Allah Ta’aala opens their eyes and guides them to the Correct Path.

From the outset, it should be understood that our Darul Ifta deems photography/videography of animate objects to be totally impermissible, regardless of the medium that is used to produce the images (digital or any other medium).

For a detailed Fatwa of our Darul Iftaregarding this, you may access it on the website in this link:
https://www.iftadua.co.za/photos-and-video-calling/4285/

Addressing your specific queries:

1. It is totally impermissible for any person, be it a Shaykh, Imam, or any layman to address a mixed gathering of males and females, where the Shaykh is able to look at the females who are attending the talk. It is imperative to observe the laws of Hijaab by not looking at the opposite gender and not being in close proximity with them at all times.

It is reported in a (Mursal) narration of Hasan (Rahimahullah) that Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

“Allah Taʿala has cursed the one who gazes (at that which is impermissible) and the one who is looked at (i.e. the individual allows that he/she be looked at)”.

It is not permissible for a man to look at a strange woman unnecessarily. If a person is addressing a mixed gathering, inevitably his gaze will fall on the women, even if he makes an effort not to gaze at them. In this era and age, the temptation of falling into evil and the means of getting involved in evil is found to a greater degree, thus, one should exercise extra caution in this regard. 

Allah Taʿala commands the males:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things).” [Suran Nur: 30]

If a person wishes to teach Deen, it ought to be taught while keeping the essence and true spirit of it alive. Merely teaching Deen without practicing on certain laws (with the excuse of “living in the 21^st century”) will not bring the desired results that are meant to be produced. 

2. It is even worse if there are only women whom he is addressing in a way that they can see one another, as Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

“A man should never be in seclusion with a woman, for Shaytan is the third”

Even in the case where the women can see the speaker but he cannot see them, this will be totally contrary to the teachings of the Shari’ah as women have been commanded to lower their gazes from strange men (those whom they can marry). 

Allah Taʿala says in the Qur’an-e-Majeed:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things).” [Surah Nur: 31]

Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

“The eyes commit fornication. The tongue commits fornication. The two hands commit fornication. The two legs commit fornication. The private part thereafter confirms it or denies it.”

Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that he was in the company of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) asked: ‘what is the best for women’? Everyone remained silent. When Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) came to Fatimah (Radiyallahu Anha), he posed the same question to her, to which she replied: ‘The best thing for a woman is that men do not see her’. Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) informed Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) of this. Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) (pleased with the answer) replied: “Fatimah is part of me” (and that is why she gave the correct answer). 

Once, Maymunah and Umm Salamah (Radiyallahu Anhuma) were in the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) when Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum (Radiyallahu Anhu) – who was a blind Sahabi – entered. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) told his two wives to observe Hijaab from him. They responded that he is blind? Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Are the two of you also blind? Can both of you not see him?!” 

The pure wives of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) were commanded to observe Hijaab. Was there any doubt or fear that they would fall into Fitnah?! Never! However, this was a lesson to the Ummah that no man or woman should feel confident of himself and gaze at the opposite gender. Even if a person does not have any desire, then too, he should lower his gaze and not unnecessarily look.

3. We have answered this in No. 1. The manner of “living in the 21^st century” is the same as living how the Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) lived in the time of Nabi (Sallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). The laws of Shari’ah do not change with the changing of times and people. Mixed gatherings, as are the norm today, were never the practice of any of our pious predecessors. One should refrain from listening to such speakers, as many times, they tend to dilute the Laws of Allah Ta’ala to keep a crowd for themselves. Many clear-cut laws are forgone on the pretext of living up to the times and era

4. Once a person becomes desensitized regarding any wrong, it leads a person to commit more serious and heinous crimes. Many of these scholars pose for pictures in a crowd of women. Hypothetically, if we accept that addressing a mixed gathering was permissible, then what is the need of posing for a picture in a group of ladies?! What is the meaning of ‘living up to the times’ by doing such an act and how does it benefit a person’s Deen?

There is no need to look at their websites. The mere fact that women are part of their organizations without any of the laws of Hijab being abided by, is enough for you to flee from such ‘scholars’.

There are many scholars who uphold the spirit of Deen as was passed down from generation to generation without diluting the laws to suit the public and to suit the times. Hold firm onto these scholars. It is not necessary that a person listens and benefits from only that Shaykh who is famous on social media and has a great number of followers

5. Scholars with regard to whom a person is not comfortable, or there is some talk regarding him which makes a person feel uncomfortable should not be given the honorable platform of a Minbar or Masjid. If there is fear that such a person will cause more confusion among the masses, such a person should not be accommodated and entertained.

6. As a final note, we would like to mention that if a person wishes to have classes for women, it should be done by the women themselves after they have been educated by their own Mahrams (those with whom marriage is forbidden). This too should be done while abiding by all the laws of Hijaab when arriving at such classes.

If a man has to lecture the women, this could be done over an audio streaming channel. There is no need for the women to be close to the speaker. The purpose of the lecture is to listen and not to gaze at the speaker. The same message which was meant to be delivered to them will be given across by listening. This is the method of living Islam in the 21^st century.

If due to certain circumstances, the women are present at the lecture venue, whether there are other males present for the lecture or only the male speaker is present, it will be necessary that a veil/barrier be placed between the males/lecturer and the females. It will not be permissible at all for the males/lecturer to be in such a hall where they can view one another. If a person happens to be in such a gathering (not knowing beforehand that there will be intermingling), he should immediately leave the gathering as soon as he realizes that there is intermingling of men and women in the gathering.