Ikhtilat: Between Fatwa and Taqwa

Muslims often experience culture shock when they visit a different community for the first time to discover that their understanding of ikhtilat (free mixing) is not universal. The level of interaction between genders differs from culture to culture, and what is considered socially acceptable in Malaysia or Türkiye would be considered unacceptable in Saudi Arabia or Qatar. The topic of ikhtilat is a matter of difference of opinion, and not easily resolved. There are three angles from which this needs to be discussed, legality (fiqh), culture (urf), and piety (taqwa). Let's explore.

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