أم زهرة

The Danger of Free-Mixing and a Warning to Those Who Treat the Matter Lightly Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “The best rows for men are the first rows, and the worst are the last rows, and the best rows for women are the last rows, and the worst are the first rows.” Muslim 440. Al-Nawawī comments: “The reason the last rows are preferred for women who are present with men is because they are farther from mixing with the men, seeing them, becoming attached in the heart due to seeing their movements or hearing their speech, and similar matters. For this reason, the first rows are considered the opposite (less preferable) for women, and Allāh knows best.” If this concern applies even in the most sacred of places, where hearts are softened, desires are restrained by the fear of Allāh, and one is surrounded by righteous believers, yet unnecessary mixing between men and women is still cautioned against, then what about places of lesser sanctity, where temptation is stronger, heedlessness is more common, and restrain is weaker? Munīb al-Ṣūmālī