Q: Should a person cut relations and move away from parents and other close relations if he or she is being made to feel isolated because of failure to adhere to the societal norm of free mixing? The individual in question feels that he is being an inconvenience at gatherings. Family feel compelled to make separate seating arrangements, which due to their habit of free mixing they can’t keep to. In addition even on the rare occasions when complete segregation is adhered to the social gathering contains useless talk, which leads to gheebat. If the individual in question addresses this issue in the only way that he knows, then he is regarded as either being a spoil sport, breaking hearts or even mentally unwell. His family regard themselves as deendar but their Deeni talks ironically take place whilst brother in laws and sister in laws are sitting in the same gathering. This brother is now beginning to feel depressed and isolated and the only way out seems to be move away from everybody. Is this a reasonable course of action to take in this particular situation?
A: He should move away from them. It is not permissible to sit down in such company.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)