Why is it that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam lined up the rows of men for prayers in the mosque separate from the women, and described the rows, as narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, by saying: “The best rows [in the mosque] are the first rows, and the worst are the last, and the best rows [in the mosque] for women are last the rows, and the worst are the first.” [Muslim]. This affirms the obligation of separating men from women, and keeping them far apart. If this is the way believing men and women should be during an act of worship inside the mosque, then how much more so is it necessary in places outside the mosques, where gatherings might include evil and sinful people along with the good people?

The Muslim nation must not slight these texts because the evil consequences which these texts are aiming to prevent society from still very much exist, and there is nothing that would prevent such evils from occurring in our time which did not exist at the time of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

Moreover, the people whom the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam addressed in these narrations were the best generation of the Muslim nation according to his own testimony, as was mentioned in many narrations. So, has the need for such texts and their warnings vanished in our time? Is it not a clear fact that in fact we need these texts and warnings even more than that generation did? This is especially so because of the dangers of evil in our time becoming more widespread and its means being more diverse.

It is usually the case that people honor any set of laws which they perceive as being beneficial to them, especially when these laws prevent evil or harm from befalling them when applied; moreover, people do not mind if these laws include certain restrictions on their freedom and impose penalties for those who disobey or transgress the defined limits. Why is it the case that some of those who believe in Allaah and His Messenger deal with Islamic Law with suspicion and uncertainty. Some of these people even go as far as to demand that it should be abolished, despite the fact that this Law includes all that which is beneficial to mankind and prevents, or at least reduces, all that which brings harm?

It is not permitted for anyone to discuss and pass judgment regarding this issue without having the proper Islamic knowledge to be able to do so. Nor should they base their discussion and opinion on unfounded claims with no evidence, or simply argue on the basis of their base desires. Rather, one should be sincere and free themselves from their base desires which will divert them far away from the truth. In addition, one must have a broad knowledge of Islam and possess the ability to differentiate between authentic and weak evidences, possess a clear understanding of the relevant evidences as well as the ability to properly extract Islamic rulings from these evidences; only then can a person become eligible to discuss this issue.

The outcome of what we say or write is the matter which we must fear the most, and are extremely wary of its consequence, as the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified to Mu’aath Ibn Jabal, may Allaah be pleased with him, after he had asked with astonishment: "Will we be held responsible for all that we say?" The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “What do you think makes people land on their faces or noses into the Hellfire more than the product of their tongues?” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood & At-Tirmithi].



from:
www.islamweb.net