Praise be to Allah.
Mixing between men and women in the workplace has obvious bad effects on both men and women. These include the following:
1 – Haraam looks. Allaah has commanded the believers, men and women, to lower their gaze. Allaah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All‑Aware of what they do.
31. And
tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden
things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not
to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent”
[al-Noor 24:30, 31]
In Saheeh Muslim (2159) it is narrated that Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about an accidental glance and he told me to avert my gaze.
2 – There may be haraam touching, which includes shaking hands. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For one of you to be struck in the head with an iron needle would be better for him than touching a woman who is not permissible for him.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani from the hadeeth of Ma’qil ibn Yasaar; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 5045.
3 – Mixing may lead to a man being alone with a woman who is not his mahram, which is haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No man is alone with a woman but the Shaytaan is the third one present.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2165; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
According to another report: “Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, let him not be alone with a woman who does not have a mahram with her, for the third one present will be the Shaytaan.” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ghaayat al-Maraam, 180.
4 – Another of its evil results is that a man may become attracted to and infatuated with a woman, or vice versa, which is as a result of mixing and lengthy interaction.
5 – It also results in destruction of families. How many men have neglected their homes and families because of being attracted to a colleague at school or at work. How many women have neglected their husbands and homes, for the same reason. How many cases of divorce have occurred because of haraam relationships engaged in by the husband or wife, where mixing at work was the thing that led to it.
For these and other reasons, Islam forbids mixing that can lead to these evil consequences. We have quoted the evidence for the prohibition on mixing in detail in the answer to question no. 1200.
Based on this, our advice to you is to leave this mixed workplace and look for another job where you will be free from these haraam things. You should also be certain that whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than it, and whoever fears Allaah, Allaah will grant him a way out from every difficulty.
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
If you have to stay in this job, then fear Allaah and lower your gaze and do not look at women. Avoid shaking hands with them or being alone with them, ands remember that Allaah is always watching. Remember that He knows what is secret and what is yet more hidden, and He “knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the hearts conceal” [Ghaafir 40:19].
May Allaah guide us to fear Him, and to remain chaste and independent of means.
And Allaah knows best.
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