Question

[Y2K_MASTER]

Hey, I've been looking for an answer for this question for a long time and have come to no avail. I would like to no if we (in islam) are allowed to have friends of the opposite sex. Not the girlfriend boyfriend thing, just friends.
Thanks brothers.

[Saeedujana]

as salaamu alaikum,

no, this is not allowed in islam.

ma'asalaama
saeed

[.: Anna :.]

No cos ur not allowed 2 be alone with them, and your not allowed to talk with them for no reason etc... so after all this how can you be friends

[Ayah]

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4564&CATE=88 (http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4564&CATE=88)

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May the peace and blessing of Allah be showered upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and those who follow them with sincerity.

It depends what you mean by “friends.” If you mean “friend” in the Western sense, where you hang out and spend time together and go places, then no, this is not allowed. Islam doesn’t allow free intermingling of the sexes for the simple reason that whenever men and women are together, there is always the possibility, whether latent or actual, of being tempted to do something improper.

That having been said, Islam is also practical. When there is a legitimate need for men and women to work together, they may do so, provided that everyone observes the proper etiquette (adab). The Qur’an describes the relationship between believing men and women as follows, “And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil; they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. (Al-Tauba, 9:71)


In this verse, the Qur’an does speak of the believers as friends. But this is in the spiritual sense, and is very different from the Western concept of friendship.


And Allah knows best.

Zaynab Ansari

[System Abuser]

Thats pretty lame, you guys must be weak if you can't be trusted with a female friend.

[Al-Irhaab]

and you must be desperate if u need a male friend :rolleyes:

[System Abuser]

and you must be desperate if u need a male friend :rolleyes:You're making no sense again, go check your head and come back.

[Saeedujana]

it is better to take preventative precautions, rather than letting the world be filled with bastards.

kind regards,
saeed

[Ayah]

You're making no sense again, go check your head and come back.

You don't have to agree with what Islam teaches us as Muslims. It's up to you, whatever you decide to have faith in. Atleast have some respect towards us & our beliefs.

~ Ayah

[System Abuser]

You don't have to agree with what Islam teaches us as Muslims. It's up to you, whatever you decide to have faith in. Atleast have some respect towards us & our beliefs.

~ AyahI have no problem with that in the slightest, however I do have a problem with that when the people saying it do not follow it themselves. I don't know you so I'm not refering to yourself but others here are guilty.

However I still think its lame that people have to stay away from the opposite sex because they can't control themselves. That is no critisizm of Islam but of people.

[Saeedujana]

However I still think its lame that people have to stay away from the opposite sex because they can't control themselves. That is no critisizm of Islam but of people.islam didn't come to change the nature of man, it came to direct it so that the wider society, as a collective can achieve a more prosperous existence. allah (swt) understands the nature of humans, even more so then we care to admit. take away the sugar coating, and whats left is just our basic instants and our organic needs. allah (swt) has elevated the whole of humanity to a higher position than mere animals, so it is quite abhorrent when we start acting like animals, by letting our base desires take control of us, instead of us controlling ourselves.

kind regards,
saeed

[Ayah]

No, it is a criticism of Islam. You think it's "lame" that people have to be conservative and careful when dealing with the opposite gender. It's not something "people" choose to do or not do for the heck of it. It's how Islam teaches us to be.

[Y2K_MASTER]

Ok, so how would we go around spreading the word of islam if we can't be their friends? or what if they want to learn about islam, how do you go about that?

[AbuMubarak]

Allah says do not go NEAR zinaa

that has been interpreted by the scholars and during the life of the prophet to avoid contact with members of the opposite sex

this is not done to oppress anyone, but to as a protection for people's modesty (a sign of faith) , their honor, and their loins

[EZ]

Thats pretty lame, you guys must be weak if you can't be trusted with a female friend.

if you go have a look at statistics you shall come to see that it is the western men that can't be trusted have a comparison of illegitimate children in the western society with those in muslim societies and you shall have your answer why islam forbids free mixing

[Ayah]

Ok, so how would we go around spreading the word of islam if we can't be their friends? or what if they want to learn about islam, how do you go about that?

You don't have to be "friends" with someone when you educate him/her. Also, to make it easier & to avoid fitnah, men can talk to men and women can talk to women.

~ Ayah

[Nawar]

Thats pretty lame, you guys must be weak if you can't be trusted with a female friend.

the laws are set by Allah (swt), full of His (swt)'s wisdom, for OUR benefit.....these laws are not 'lame'...they are there with a purpose...