The Islaamic ruling on intermixing:
This is a forbidden matter in Islaam because it arouses lusts and desires and leads to immorality and sin. There are many texts from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah proving this. The following are some of them:
Allaah says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعاً فَاسأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُم أَطهَرُ لِقُلُوبِهكُم وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ
which means: "...And when you ask [the wives of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts..." [Al-Ahzaab: 53]
Additionally, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam prohibited intermixing, even in the mosque, by separating the rows of the men from those of the women.
The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam would remain sitting in the same position that he prayed in, with his back to the congregation, in order to give enough time for the women to leave the mosque, according to a narration of Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her [Al-Bukhaari]
Ibn 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
"Let this door (i.e., one of the doors of his mosque) be exclusively for women." Naafi', may Allaah have mercy upon him, who was the servant of Ibn 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that Ibn 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, never again entered the mosque from that door after hearing this statement. [Abu Daawood]
The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, according to the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him:
"The best rows (in prayer) for men are those furthest to the front, and the worst of them are those furthest to the back; and the best rows (in prayer) for women are those furthest to the back, and the worst of them are those closest to the men's (rows)." [Muslim]
This encouragement is to prevent intermixing in a location where ill-thoughts are unlikely to cross the minds of people. If this is the preventive measure used in the mosque, then it is surely much more applicable outside the mosque.
Abu Usayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, was once coming from the mosque when he heard the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam addressing women due to him seeing that the men and women were walking very close to each other after having exited from the mosque:
"Stay back! You should not walk in the middle of the street, rather, walk to one of its sides." Abu Usayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, added: "Thereafter, the women would walk so close to the walls on the side of that street that their garments would scrape against it." [Abu Daawood]
We know that this sin has become prevalent nowadays but the following should be noted:
· We do not approve of it, nor willingly do it, especially during Islaamic lectures and gatherings.
· We must try to avoid it as much as possible and take all measures to reduce it, like designating separate entrances for men and women.
· We must fear Allaah and lower our gaze.
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The following is an advice from Imaam 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, to all Muslims, may Allaah enable them to perform acts of obedience and refrain from sin and religious innovations.
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