intermingling of sexes and Imaamat

Question ID: 
2035
me@***@you.com asks:

Question

Asslm dear mufti/molvi. My question is regarding intermingling of men and women at occasions such as marriages. Mufti meerun sahib has always strictly prohibited it. During his living not all molvis of JUM followed it. I've seen some molvis attend gatherings with men and women. They used to sit and eat food on tables with ghair mahram. They still do it. 1. What is JUM's stand regarding their own molvis that dont follow their rules? 2. Should these kinds of molvis be put forward for leading salaat in mosques where they are not imam while the actual imam and other molvis are present? Jazaakumullahu khayran.

Answer

A. Walaikum salaam warahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Respected brother,

With regards to your query regarding intermingling of men and women at occasions such as marriages, we would like to inform you that our stance has not changed and we still maintain that it is prohibited for a muslim to attend such gatherings.
Furthermore, you mentioned that you’ve seen some molvis doing it. We would like to bring a few things to your attention:
1) Just like it is prohibited for the molvis, it is also prohibited for you to be in such gatherings!
2) If 1 or 2 Molvis were there, we should first know the reason for their presence there. It could be that they were there for a specific cause which does not contravene the Shariah. Hence, we can’t issue a blanket ruling on what you said.
3) If you can prove that they were there simply for partying, free mixing with other ghair mahram and merry making, then such a molvi shouldn’t be sent forward as Imam if others are present. He can still lead the Salah if there is no one who is as qualified as him to lead.

And Allah knows best

Answered by:
(Mf) Bilal
For the Jamiatul Ulama of Mauritius