الاختلاط بين الرجال والنساء في ضوء نصوص الشريعة: دراسة تحليلية مقارنة

The Ruling on Gender Interaction in the Light of Shari'ah Texts A Comparative and Analytical Study

Abstract

This research is a comparative and analytical study that focuses on the Ruling about gender interaction in the light of Shari'ah texts. The researcher presents the differences of opinion among classical and contemporary scholars on the issue, discusses their opinions along with comparative analysis of the reasoning proffered and explains the intellectually convincing view on the issue. Furthermore, the researcher examines in depth the degrees of veracity and authenticity of aḥādīth of the Prophet (sws) that the scholars adduce in their contestations. In this regard, the researcher has used two approaches: the first is the comparative one and the second is the analytical one. The researcher concludes that the injunction of Ᾱyat al-Hijāb in which Allah (swt) specifically addresses the wives of the prophets and instructs them to entirely seclude themselves from strange men and not mingle with them. He persuasively posits that this Qur’anic injunction was specific to them. Therefore, it would not be appropriate at all to generalize this special directive and extend it to common Muslim women in the light of Qurānic and ḥadīth texts as well as the established common practice of Muslims at the time of the Prophet (sws). Rather, it is permissible in the Shari'ah for common Muslim men and women to gather and interact with each other at their homes, institutions, offices and at various public places and occasions as long as they all adopt the Qurānic directives and etiquette at the time of their interaction which are mentioned in Sūrah al-Nūr.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article, and that the data presented have not been fabricated or falsified.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant or financial support from public, commercial, or not-for profit funding agencies.

Participant Consent:  The authors confirm that Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and confidentiality was duly maintained.

Data Fabrication/Falsification Statement: The author(s) declare that no data have been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in this study.

Copyright: Author(s) retains the Copyright of this article.