Segregation in Islam

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.

Gadgets and Life Balance

In a special Message on 22 April 2020, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius exhorts everyone of us- youths and children of the Jamaat, as well as their parents- to be aware of the harmful effects of 'addiction' to electronic gadgets: smartphones, earphones, digital entertainment, etc. As technology 'machines' help in simplifying daily tasks in several, different ways; one can easily appreciate their instrumental value. Yet, it is also critical to strike a correct and fine balance in our approach to these machines. In our gadget-driven world of hyper-connectivity, the omnipresence of smartphones as 'entertainment' machines raises special challenges for impressionable children. Being glued to these gadgets can cause the deeply-vulnerable youths to lose focus on the issues that matter; setting them on a path of 'alternate reality' where they become oblivious of their true surroundings. The widely-observed contemporary phenomenon of lack of respect, and rift in relations between young-adults and their parents; tension and turmoil in family and social life, etc. can be explained in terms of such harmful addictions and negative influences. To secure our ethical values and to reclaim balance in individual and social life, it is essential to adopt a correct approach to technology devices and what they bring on the table, points out Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) in this discourse. 

Read the Special Address Below: 

Being Wise on Social Media

Who does not know Facebook, Youtube, WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. ? They are described as social networks that connect people around the world. Today, these networks have more than 2 billion users worldwide and thousands connect each week. And the most used of these networks is Facebook.

In Mauritius and around the world as a whole, Facebook has been growing in popularity. Everyone goes on it, even 10-year-olds. It includes all social classes: movie stars, artists, politicians, social workers, students, men, and housewives, etc.

While this network has some advantages, such as finding work and finding long-lost family members or friends, there are many dangers, especially for us Muslims. 

'Addiction' to Facebook Leads to A-social Habits

Facebook is a social network, but by doing a thorough analysis, we see that it’s actually an antisocial network. Users are often permanently connected to it at home or in the office. Some young people, addicted to Facebook, evolve almost in a virtual world, disconnected from reality. Many people prefer to eat in front of the computer (or Laptop/ Tablet/ Smartphone etc.), chat with virtual friends or play games on Facebook. They no longer see the importance of spending time eating with family, among others.

According to Wahshi ibn Harb’s report, some of the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) said: “O Allah’s Apostle! We eat but we are not satisfied.” He said: “Perhaps you eat separately.” They replied: “Yes.” He said: “If you gather together at your food and mention Allah’s name, you will be blessed in it.” (Reported by Abu Dawud).

Eating together strengthens family ties, encourages dialogue, and certainly brings more blessings. Islam is a religion that is against individualism, it encourages sociability and wants all believers to live as a family.