Six General Principles for Male-Female Interactions

All laws of the Sharīʿah — save the taʿabbudī laws in which there's a difference of opinion — have underlying wisdoms to them and benefits that they aim to bring to mankind. Some of the objectives of the Sharīʿah in stipulating laws specifically for gender interactions are:

• protection from fornication (zinā)

• preservation of family and community 

• preservation of lineages (ḥifẓ an-nasl)

• preservation of dignity and honour

• maintaining harmony among people

There are six general principles for male-female interactions, they are as follows...

1. Khalwah (seclusion) must be avoided

It is impermissible for a non-mahram man and woman to be alone in the same place in a manner in which a third person cannot enter upon them [which provides opportunity for immoral behaviour to occur]. One may avoid being in khalwah by ensuring there is a third person present, one of her mahrams are with her, or ensuring the room is easily accessible by others such as by leaving a door open or sitting in a room with big glass windows.

22. The ʿawrah must be covered

A woman's ʿawrah (nakedness) in front of non-mahram men is her whole body excluding her hands, feet, and face (the discussion of niqāb is separate to ʿawrah). A man's ʿawrah (in general) is from his navel, up to and including his knees. Therefore, it is a great sin to expose the places of ʿawrah in front of the opposite gender.

3. Informality must be avoided

This includes talking casually, joking, and being flirtatious in conversation. All of these are forbidden and must be avoided. Muslim men and women must speak in a straightforward and formal manner when the need arises to interact with non-mahrams. This applies to vitual interactions via messages and emails too.

4. Perfume must be avoided

It his forbidden for women to wear perfume in the presence of non-mahram men. She can wear it at home [where non-mahrams are not present], or in gatherings where only women (and mahrams) are present, which means she should take her perfume bottle with her to the event, and then apply it. She should make an effort to apply it on an area that can easily be removed or washed upon her return home (such as on the wrists).

5. Lustful gazes must be lowered

Allah Taʿala commands both believing men and women to lower their gazes from the opposite gender. If there is a need, from a juristic standpoint, a woman may look at the face of a non-mahram man only when she is certain that she will not feel attracted and have lustful thoughts/feelings. As for men, it is prohibited for them to look at the face of non-mahram women, however, the first unintentional glance is forgiven. In any case, it is best to avoid as a means of precaution and maintaining purity of the mind.

6. The face must be covered

Although the Ḥanafī scholars did not classify the face to be a part of the ʿawrah, the later scholars opined that wearing the niqāb is nevertheless wājib, due to khawf al-fitnah (fear of fitnah) and fasād az-zamān (corruption of time). Therefore, if there is ever a genuine need (ḥājah), then a woman may remove her niqāb for that period of time. The need does not need to be life-threatening (ḍarūrah). 

Many points were derived from the respected Mufti Muhammad al-Kawthari's 'Fiqh of Gender and Social Interactions' course. May Allah reward him abundantly.