Q: Would attending a mixed university be permissible? How are we to decide which mixed gatherings are permissible and which aren’t? Like restaurants, shops, family gatherings are all mixed. Public places are mixed too. I don’t think its a part of our religion to cut ourself from the world?
A: No.
All mixed gatherings are impermissible. However, situations that are totally unavoidable where you have to go to fetch your necessities then you will go to these places and fetch your necessities though the gatherings may be mixed.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: I would like to ask for some clarification on this. You mentioned that mixed gatherings are only permissible if “totally unavoidable where you have to go to fetch your necessities”. Does this mean that all university students are sinful since all universities in my country are mixed and include obligatory group work, whilst it is not “totally unavoidable” to study at university. Or are university students excused? Otherwise Muslims are not able to become doctors, engineers etc.
A: When there is a permissible alternative then there is no reason that they get into this type of group work wherein according to statistics at least 80 to 90 percent of students get involved in some type of a haraam relationship. Is it worth the price? Just to get some type of a material gain we get our innocent boys and girls involved in haraam, and strip them off their modesty and shame.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)