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:

i just wanted to know is it haraam to interact with the opposite sex and this does not include physical interaction. eg:just having a guy friend.?
is this permissable? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Relationship with opposite sex

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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5:

5        This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you.  The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.  (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time, when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity, not lewdness nor secret intrigues.  If anyone rejects faith fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 30-31:

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 Allah is well acquainted 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 and not display their beauty except to their ….. (mehrams, womenfolk, children, etc.)

Islam regards gender relationships into three categories:

1. Relationship with one who is of the same sex.
2. Relationship with one who is a mehram.
3. Relationship with one who is a non-mehram.

There is absolutely no harm in interacting with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex, provided one has a genuine need and the guidelines of Islam are respected and honored.  What Islam does prohibit is a lewd or secret relationship with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex.

Your Question: eg:just having a guy friend.? is this permissable? 

Islam does not prohibit a believing woman from having a male friend, nor a believing man from having a female friend, provided there is a mehram relationship between them (father, brother, uncle, husband, children, etc.).  

Because of the inherent nature of the man and the woman, Islam absolutely discourages and prohibits having a close or very friendly relationship with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex; but if one has a genuine need there is absolutely no harm in interacting with them in a professional and business-like manner. 

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 and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan