Woman Between Islam and Western Society
4. The Problems Facing Modern Civilization
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very attractive idea. But when the lifting of
restrictions on the degree of intimacy which could
develop between the opposite sexes began to lead
with increasing frequency to rape, the pendulum of
opinion began to swing back in favor of traditional
restrictions as being the healthiest social principles
to follow. It has become all too obvious that the
path of sexual freedom can lead society only to its
own destruction.
A HADITH
The prevalent custom of dating, which permits
unmarried boys and girls to meet and remain
together unchaperoned for unlimited periods in
complete seclusion, has been little short of
disastrous in its consequences, thus illustrating the
meaningfulness of the
shari’ah
in no uncertain
manner. The following
hadith,
taking full account of
the evil inherent in the situations arising from this
custom, gives us a clear injunction prohibiting
them:
One who believes in God and in the
Judgement Day ought not to stay with a
woman in private while no
mahram
(i.e. a near
