What is your advice regarding the mixing of men with women who are not their mahram (relatives one may not marry), such as a cousin’s daughter or a brother’s wife?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh says: In some nearby areas, the mixing of men and women has become widespread, where a man sits with his cousin’s daughter or his brother’s wife, and perhaps they all gather together for a meal. What is your advice in this matter?
The Shaykh : As for the family gathering in one place, with the women on one side and the men on the other, there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on them, as long as there is no specific fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that we know of from some of the men or some of the women. In that case, it is not prohibited. Otherwise, in principle, this is permissible. As for gathering to eat together, that is not correct. Gathering to eat may result in a woman being next to a man who is not her mahram (relative one may not marry) and not her husband. Also, how can a woman eat while her face is covered? She must uncover it, because it is known that food enters with what? With the mouth. Therefore, the covering must be removed. For this reason, we see that this matter should be prohibited. As for their presence in one place, in a sitting room or a hall or something similar, there is nothing wrong with it if the women are separated from the men.
The Shaykh : As for the family gathering in one place, with the women on one side and the men on the other, there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on them, as long as there is no specific fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that we know of from some of the men or some of the women. In that case, it is not prohibited. Otherwise, in principle, this is permissible. As for gathering to eat together, that is not correct. Gathering to eat may result in a woman being next to a man who is not her mahram (relative one may not marry) and not her husband. Also, how can a woman eat while her face is covered? She must uncover it, because it is known that food enters with what? With the mouth. Therefore, the covering must be removed. For this reason, we see that this matter should be prohibited. As for their presence in one place, in a sitting room or a hall or something similar, there is nothing wrong with it if the women are separated from the men.