Male-female friendship

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

In Islam, the relationship between man and woman is segregated in two parts. One is the ‘mehram’ relationship, and the other ‘non-mehram’. Mehram relationships are considered sacred and absolutely allowed in Islam. Non-Mehram relationships between a man and woman may give rise to illegal emotions, and there is always the chance of establishing an illicit relationship, and this is forbidden in Islam.

Allah, Who created everything in existence along with its nature, has made a natural physical attraction between man and the woman. And Allah has allowed a legal way to accommodate this natural physical attraction between a non-mehram man and woman, through the institution of ‘nikaah’ or marriage.

Islam does not permit the casual friendship between a non-mehram man and woman, as this sort of friendships sow the seeds of destructions of morals in society. The biggest evidence of this degradation of morals can be seen in the societies which have allowed these non-mehram relationships to flourish.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 53: If you (the noble companions of the Prophet) have to ask the wives of the Prophet for something, ask for it from behind a curtain. This is a better way for the purity of your, as well as their hearts.

The above command is for some of the most noble and best people who ever lived on this planet earth; the companions of the Prophet, and the chaste and noble wives of the Prophet of Allah (saws). Allah commands the companions of the Prophet that if they have to ask for something from the wives of the Prophet, they should do so from behind a veil or a curtain, because this way is better and purer for both, the companions and the wives of the Prophet (saws). No people could have controlled their emotions and feared Allah more than the noble companions and the chaste wives of the Prophet; but even to such noble souls, Allah has commanded that it is purer and better that if they need to talk to the wives of the Prophet, they should do so from behind a curtain.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration: “Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Shaitaan is the third."

In light of the Holy Quran, and the various authentic narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws), with the exception of marriage, it is forbidden for a non-mehram man to have any sort of friendship with a non-mehram woman.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan