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:

Assalamoilkaum brother

my question is: is it lawful to chat with na-mehram on the topic of only "Islam".

thank u 

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Answer:

Chat on Islam

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.

The ‘usool’ or principle of righteousness in Islam is that non-mehram men and women should not interact with each other without absolute genuine need; and when they do need to interact, they should do so in an absolute business-like manner making sure that their interaction does not start developing in a relationship or friendship.

Allah, Who created everything in existence along with its nature, has made a natural attraction between a man and a 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 (saws) that if they have to ask for something from the wives of the Prophet (saws), 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 (saws); 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 (saws), they should do so from behind a veil or barrier.

For those who claim that their intentions are ‘pure’ when they talk or interact with non-mehram members of the opposite sex, they should know that no human beings who ever walked on this planet earth other than the Prophets of Allah were purer or feared Allah more than the noble and chaste wives and the noble companions of the Last Prophet of Allah (saws)…but even they were required and commanded by their Lord to abstain from casual interaction with each other!

The principle in Islam is that if one’s intentions are ‘pure’, then they should strive to keep them pure and not intentionally put themselves in a situation whereby the Shaytaan may inspire or invite them towards ‘impure’ thoughts. A similitude of this guidance would be when one wears pure and clean clothes, one makes sure that his clothes remain pure and clean and one who is careful would not intentionally put himself in a situation where the purity or cleanliness of his clothes are harmed.

Your Question: my question is: is it lawful to chat with na-mehram on the topic of only "Islam".
There is absolutely no harm if one wishes to consult or ask a learned person or a scholar about some particular aspect of the deen; but to ‘chat’ or develop a casual friendship or relationship with a non-mehram in the guise of learning the deen, or hold a casual ‘chat’ about other things which has little to do with seeking knowledge and more to do with developing a relationship would be absolutely against the principles of decency, righteousness, and piety which the deen of Islam encourages and upholds.

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