mohamed%umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu@oxy.edu (Asad Mohamed) (12/06/89)
Peace I would like to get an islamic perspective on something that we do, presumably everyday. Living in the U.S (atleast), muslims have to interact with both men and women. What is the Islamic thing to do when it comes to interacting with these people from the opposite sex ? If one were to keep sex out of the picture, can a muslim develop and maintain a relationship with a person of the opposite sex ? If such a friendship/relationship develops, is it of any relevance whether the other person is a muslim or not ? Obviously, Zina, would enter the picture if sex creeped in, but would it apply to a non-sexual relationship too ? I wonder if this article/host of posers is of relevance to more than just myself. If it does, i hope it will get posted and draw from the potentially vast number of knowledgeable muslims.If and when this article draws responses, i would appreciate it if the references used were classified as Quran or Hadith. Thanks Asad Mohamed
sadeghi@oxy.edu (Behnam Sadeghi) (12/06/89)
In the Name of God. In article <8912042045.AA05312@umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu> Mohammad Asad writes: >Peace > >I would like to get an islamic perspective on something that we do, >presumably everyday. Living in the U.S (atleast), muslims have to >interact with both men and women. > >What is the Islamic thing to do when it comes to interacting with these >people from the opposite sex ? > >If one were to keep sex out of the picture, can a muslim develop and >maintain a relationship with a person of the opposite sex ? If such a >friendship/relationship develops, is it of any relevance whether the >other person is a muslim or not ? > >Obviously, Zina, would enter the picture if sex creeped in, but would it >apply to a non-sexual relationship too ? > >I wonder if this article/host of posers is of relevance to more than >just myself. If it does, i hope it will get posted and draw from the >potentially vast number of knowledgeable muslims.If and when this >article draws responses, i would appreciate it if the references used >were classified as Quran or Hadith. > >Thanks > >Asad Mohamed I am not able to answer the specific question, but these comments are related and may be of interest. Seclusion of women which is currently practiced in certain places in the Moslem world did not exist in the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). The Quran commands seclusion for the wives of the Prophet only. An example of how the values of some Moslems changed over time can be seen in the question of women's worship in the mosques. There are numerous hadiths in the most authentic sources that prove definitively that during the Prophet's lifetime women commonly prayed in the mosque. In fact, The Prophet prohibited some men's attempt to prevent their wives from walking to the mosque at night due potential danger. Shortly after the Prophets' death, however, women were barred from mosques. This change in values might be due to the rapid expansion of Moslems after the Prophet's death which led to the absorption of many Persian and Byzantine institutions. As for friendships with members of the opposite sex, there is no restriction in the Quran against it. Of course, Moslems are required to be modest. Also, looking at a member of the opposite sex for the sake of pleasure is unacceptable (needless to say, unless it's your husband or wife!!). Behnam Sadeghi ................................................. Soura xxiv, an-Nur (Yusuf Ali's translation) 30. Say to the believing men, That they should lower Their gaze and guard Their modesty: That will make For greater purity for them: And God is well acuainted With all that they do. 31. And say to the believing women That they should lower Their gaze and guard Their modesty; that they Should not display their Beauty and ornaments except What (must ordinarily) appear Thereof; that they should Draw their veils over Their bosoms... .....................................................