Mixed or Separate Family Gatherings. Please advise

[Crime_Master_GOGO]

Re: Mixed or Separate Family Gatherings. Please advise

@redvelvet

But why only confine it to social gatherings? If it is feared that lustful feelings may develop with the intermingling of both genders in a social gathering then shouldn’t it be considered that one can develop an attraction to a person’s online personality/responses/posts, etc? If you’re going to be particular about non-mahram relatives of the opposite gender (whom you think of as sisters) and aunties whom you consider to be like your mother…then how do you justify your participation on GS (where there is no restriction regarding the mingling of both genders)?

I thought about this matter a number of times and discussed with scholars before deciding to join an online forum and even after that. There are many aspects to it. I even left such forums for a certain time a number of times because of this confusion. The only reason that convinced me and brought me back was that if you are not involved in one to one chatting/PM and your intention is to participate in a discussion and leave, without ever sharing your identity, picture or looking at anyone’s profile details…etc., it is not disallowed. I also tried the “share the info in blogs and leave” strategy. To learn and educate within “pardah” was allowed in the times of our ideals, if I am not wrong. Here we don’t have any idea of who is who. Very limited information about anyone, except the knowledge we gain. Anyways, if I am convinced by anyone that this actually is like an actual gathering where it is not easy to control one’s gaze,…etc, I promise that inshaAllah I wouldn’t return to online forums.

Of course, that is not meant to criticize others, just for my personal satisfaction, what I feel better for myself as I am answerable for only my own deeds.