I find this relevant to us all

I
am a young man who is religiously committed. I am studying in a mixed
university and I would like to develop my specialty further, but that
requires me to interact in class, which will open channels of
communication between me and other students. In addition to that there
are female teachers who teach us very important subjects. How should I
interact with the female students and teachers?.



Praise be to Allaah.




Studying in mixed schools, institutes and universities is not
permitted. The evils that exist in these institutions because of that mixing
are no secret, let alone the fact that people do not learn much, if
anything, in these institutions. Wise people even in kaafir countries have
called for segregation between the sexes in educational institutions because
of the moral damage they have noticed and the weakening of educational
standards. Trustworthy have scholars have issued fatwas stating that this
kind of education is not permissible.


The scholars of the Standing Committee said:


It is haraam for male and female students and teachers to mix
in educational institutions, because of the fitnah and provocation of
desires and immoral conduct that results from that. The gravity of the sin
is compounded if the female teachers and students uncover any part of their
‘awrahs or wear see-through or tight clothing, or if the students or
teachers flirt or joke together, which may lead to transgression of limits
and violation of honour.


Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/102, 103


Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was
asked:

Is it permissible for a
man to study in a mixed university where men and women mix in one classroom,
knowing that the student has a role to play in calling people to Allaah?


He replied:


What I think is that it is not permissible for anyone, man or
woman, to study in a mixed school, because of the grave danger that it poses
to his chastity, integrity and morals. No matter how great a person’s
integrity, morals and innocence, if a woman is sitting beside him on the
seat – especially if she is beautiful and unveiled – he can hardly avoid
fitnah and evil. Everything that leads to fitnah and evil is also haraam and
is not permitted. We ask Allaah to keep our Muslim brothers safe from such
things which will only bring evil, fitnah and corruption to their youth. If
there is no other university apart from this one, he should go and study in
another city or country where this mixing does not happen. I do not think
that this is permissible but others may have a different opinion.


Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/103

We have already
discussed the ruling on mixing in detail in the answer to question no.
1200.


See also the answers to questions no.
8827,
22397 and
6666.


This is easy those who do not have the problem of mixed
schools in their country or who have access to colleges and universities
that are not mixed, so they have no need to study in mixed colleges. But
there remains the question of those who are faced with the problem of mixed
schools in their countries. What should they do, especially if that will
affect their chances of earning a living or of getting married in the
future, since if they do not study in these colleges they will not be able
to find a job or get married.


In this case, there is no option, and the need is great, and
when the need is great, the matter may come under the heading of necessity.
This necessity may be taken into consideration, provided that the following
conditions are met:


1-
That there be no other place
where he can study, even if it is in another country


2-
That he cannot obtain this
certificate by means of distance learning or studying via the internet, for
example


3-
That he goes to study in these
mixed places seeking the help of Allaah to confront fitnah.


He should take care to lower his gaze as much as he can and
not touch or shake hands with non-mahram women or be alone with them, and he
should not sit right next to them.


He should advise the girls to sit away from the boys and
adhere to other Islamic guidelines as well.


4-
If he notices himself slipping
towards haraam things and being tempted by those of the opposite sex who are
with him, then the soundness of his religious commitment is more important
than any worldly aims, so he has to leave the place immediately and Allaah
will make him independent of means by His bounty. And Allaah is the One
Whose help we seek.

Jaza kullahi for posting that >> i found that very crucial topic for discussion

I'm so adding this to our FORUM at rmitis

That was abosolutely nice to read especially at the complete end.

Thanks for sharing..

thanks , i've just personally noticed alot of men hanging out with girls @ uni (muslim and non muslim) muckign around, touching each other etc. claiming they are 'just friends'

same with girls who hang out with their male 'buddies' in a flirtatious way

its pathetic.

jazakallahu khair

Yer it is pathetic and its quite sad actually the way girls and guys hand out and flirt these days. May Allah guide them, Ameen.

JazzakiAllah Khair for sharing this Jamie.

Yikes, my heart stopped for a second; I thought I was earning a haram degree

Jazaikumu Allahu kheyr for the reminder sis Merhna, its so easy to forget in society in built for such a free mixing.

Zamzam wrote:Yikes, my heart stopped for a second; I thought I was earning a haram degree

I dont get it?

It looks like majority of the people have interpreted the fatwa as Ibn 'Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) prohibiting free mixing alone?

Interesting...

Yer your right Yasmin its not just about free mixing alone coz most of the Fatwaa's say that its not permissible to study at mixed universities, one person says "What I think is that it is not permissible for anyone, man or
woman, to study in a mixed school, because of the grave danger that it poses" and many more say similar things, does that mean that we shouldnt study at uni coz If thats the case then what do we do like where do we study??? This is an interesting topic.

Pathetic or otherwise, I think we should pray to Allah subhana wa ta'alaa to make them realise the error of their ways instead of condemning them.. subhanaAllah, who knows of how they'll act in the future..WaAllahu ta'alaa a'lam.

There's fitnah everywhere, it just depends on how the person reacts to the given fitnah, may Allah 'azzawajal protect us from giving in. Aameen. Thummah aameen.

And Allah knows best.

JuzaakaAllahu khair for the article ukhti.