Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Respected Sir,
Assalamoalaikum
what did ulema said about chatting( on internet) with unknowing( na mehram) man.
Please send me the answer as soon as possible. I will be thankful to you.
ALLAH HAFIZ. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Internet chatting

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.

Islam does not prohibit talking to non-mehram members of the opposite sex, if one has a genuine need or necessity. Thus there is no harm in talking on the phone or writing on the internet, etc. with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex, if one has an absolute genuine need. But one must fear Allah and be absolutely careful to engage, talk, ask or reply in a business-like and professional manner, and not in some casual, personal or ‘soft’ tone, giving rise to any desires, etc.

Prohibition to engage in a conversation with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex has more to do with the content of the talk. It is absolutely prohibited in Islam for a non-mehram man and woman to talk or ‘chat’, where the topics involved are casual, vain or lewd in its essence.

Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 3118 Narrated byUmar ibn al-Khattab

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whenever a man is alone with a (non-mehram) woman, the Shaitaan is the third."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) warned that when a non-mehram man and woman are alone (either physically or in conversation through modern technology), the Shaitaan is the third amongst them! And the mission of the Shaitaan, the avowed enemy of man, is make him disobey his Lord and Creator!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 32: Do not even go near ‘zina’ (fornication or adultery) for it is a very indecent thing and a very evil way!

The main wisdom behind the prohibition in Islam of the free-mixing and casual-talking between a non-mehram man and a woman, is that this ‘seemingly innocent’ correspondence is the start of a ‘casual’ and ‘illegal’ relationship which perchance might lead one on the evil and heinous path of ‘zina’ (fornication and adultery). The sin of ‘zina’ is amongst the greatest sins in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, for which capital punishment has been prescribed by Allah and His Messenger (saws) for one who is guilty of this heinous sin in the life of this world; and if one does not sincerely repent before one’s death after committing this heinous sin, the punishment of the Hereafter would be ignoramus and severe indeed!

To enable mankind to save himself from this heinous sin and its consequences of destruction of self, family, and society, the guidance of the Lord Most Merciful has not just simply forbidden ‘zina’, but blocked every single path that might lead one towards this great evil. ‘Casual’ and ‘vain’ talk between a non-mehram man and woman is an act which might allow the avowed enemy of man, the Shaytaan, to lead one to this grave sin; and thus the Perfect Guidance of Islam has warned the believers to abstain from ever even approaching this evilest of paths!

For those who think that they can develop an ‘innocent’ or platonic relationship with non-mehram women, or that they can control their emotions and their desires when talking ‘casual’ talk with non-mehram women, just take a look at this command of the All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord of the Worlds to the noble companions of the Holy Prophet (saws):

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 53: O ye who Believe! …. And when ye ask (the Prophet’s wives) for anything ye want, ask them from behind a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs.

Who is the above command of Allah addressed to? Some loose men or women? Allah is our witness sister, the above command is addressed to some of the absolute best and most pious and chaste men and women who ever walked on this planet earth: the Noble and Chaste Wives of the Prophet (saws), and the Noble and Pious Companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Allah is our witness sister, if there were men and women who feared Allah as he deserves to be feared and had better control of their desires amongst the Ummah of Prophet Mohamed (saws), none would be able to exceed the piety and righteousness of these noble souls around the Messenger of Allah (saws)!

Is there one amongst us who can declare that he fears Allah more or is more pious and righteous than these noblest of souls? If yes, then his arrogance and ignorance will lead him to nothing but his own perdition!

Man takes so much care of his physical body, which he knows will, without a doubt perish one day! He never knowingly walks towards anything that will endanger his life or his health, is extremely careful when associating with anyone with an infectious disease, would never ever even consume anything even if he had the slightest of doubts that it contained poison, etc.! On the other hand, man braves to take on the challenges which might destroy his soul; the soul which will far outlive his physical body! Those whom Allah Subhanah has blessed to be guided aright, take care not only of their physical self, but give utmost importance to the purity of their souls!

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan