To protect the dignity and privacy
of individuals while respecting their need for engaging in social relations, the
Islamic ethics of Taqwah prescribes ‘Pardah’, a code of conduct for unrelated
men and women in their possible social interactions. These days such
interactions take place on an everyday basis both on physical spaces- schools,
colleges, universities, work places, transport vehicles, etc.- and on virtual
spaces such as social media, online meetings, chatting networks, etc. This
raises profound questions of practical guidance on related issues for the
believers- men and women of faith. For instance, how should a boy or man behave
towards a girl or woman he interacts with in the context of social media? Can a
man shake hands with a woman and vice-versa in social settings? What about
singing Nazms where men and women use their voices and can attract each
other’s attention?
Recently, in a programme telecast over the Sahih Al Islam YouTube Channel, a number of issues of appropriate conduct and behaviour between unrelated men and women in social settings were put before Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius for guidance and clarification from the perspective of the Law of Shari’ah.
Reproduced Below is the text of the Question and Answer session with Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) anchored by Tayyeba N.A. Saheba in July 2023.