Explaining the danger of the free mixing of men and women.

The questioner : ... ؟

The Shaykh : It is even more fitting, and more fitting still, that it is not permissible for a young man to sit with a Muslim girl and talk to her; because this sitting and this... is one of the strongest causes for Satan to enter between them. We are often asked another question similar to this one: Is it permissible in the Shari'ah for the wives and husbands of brothers who love each other for the sake of Allah, who compete in good deeds and advise one another, to sit together in one place or at one table, for example? Is this permissible?
I say: This falls under the category of permissibility; it is permissible, but conditional upon a condition that is not realized in practice. It is permissible if we assume that both the men and the women observe modesty and proper conduct, and that the occasion is limited in scope, whether it is a meal, a drink, a family gathering, or something similar. It must not be made a habit or a way of life, nor is it possible to live in this manner? No, only occasionally. Even so, I say that this... such a gathering is permissible if the conditions are met. However, it is difficult, especially in a society like ours, where every day that passes sees us moving further away from Islam. It is this year that both men and women should observe modesty and proper conduct, so that none of the men or women present speaks words that would cause laughter, resulting in a smile here and a burst of laughter there. From there, Satan creeps into the human soul. Therefore, since it is difficult to achieve this in a casual, temporary gathering, it is better that such a gathering not take place. Why? Because Satan runs through the son of Adam, or the human being, like blood. Therefore, I say, as I said at the beginning of my answer: Whoever among the youth is afflicted with entering university to study something, he must be far from having any connection with any girl, even if she is one of the women who wear the hijab, even if this hijab is not as it should be. But even so, some evil is less than some. Do not be deceived by the woman wearing the hijab into thinking that she is a sister to you... this is one of Satan's deceptions for the human being. Because if she is wearing the hijab, it does not mean she has become a nun. And even if she were to become a nun, it does not mean she has become inanimate; meaning, she has not ceased to be a human being with feelings, with emotions, with needs and desires. But the righteous woman... but... staying away from the path through which Satan enters the children of Adam.
If we recall the story of the Messenger (peace be upon him) with the two men while he was standing with Safiyyah, and he drew attention to the fact that Satan enters and moves in the blood of the human being; what would this young man say if he stood with a girl, even if they were, for example, walking in the university courtyard? But no one is near them... with them, so that no word comes from him or from her; meaning, the opportunity for Satan to enter between the Muslim young man, so he claims, and the Muslim young woman, so she claims, exists in every occasion. Therefore, the happy one and the true believer is the one who stays away from all the means that may entangle him and throw him... on his head. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade seclusion, because it is a very great means for a person to enter and satisfy his need from the children of Adam. He said (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him): . It is not said that this hadith forbade seclusion and that there is nothing wrong with what is not seclusion. We say: Prohibitions have degrees, and the things forbidden in the Shari'ah are likewise. If there is no seclusion, they say, for example, what is seclusion? It is when... a man is with a non-mahram woman in a place and they close the door; this is seclusion, and it is forbidden. But if the door is open, it is not seclusion. This is correct speech, but this does not mean that if he sits in a room with the door open, that there is nothing... between them. But his entering there and closing the door is stronger for him and happier for him. For this reason, this hadith... which forbids seclusion, alerts the sensible Muslim that it is not permissible for him to be in a place where there is suspicion, conjecture, or doubt.
And perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.