Imam Khamenei – Attending Gatherings of Debauchery

Q1. From time-to-time parties, attended by professors and students alike, are held in the universities in foreign countries. It goes without saying that alcoholic drinks are served in such parties. What should be the position of the students who want to attend these parties?

A: It is not permissible for anyone to attend any gathering where alcoholic drinks are consumed. You should not take part in such activities to let it be known to those people that since you are Muslim, you neither drink alcoholic drinks nor attend gatherings where such drinks are served.

Q2. Suppose that a man attended a wedding party where there is, among those present, a woman without ḥijāb. Since the man knows that the woman is not going to listen to his forbidding her from the evil, does it become incumbent on him to leave the party?

A: Leaving the gathering of sin, in protest against what is taking place there, becomes obligatory when it amounts to the obligation of forbidding evil.

Q3. In non-Muslim countries, alcoholic beverages are normally served in seminars and conferences. Is it permissible to participate in such seminars and conferences?

A: It is not permissible to be present in any gathering where alcoholic beverages are consumed. In case of necessity, the participation should be limited to that which is necessary.

Ayatollah Sistani 

Q1: What’s the ruling for men attending mixed places such as swimming pools and gyms, where women are usually indecently dressed? Also, what’s the ruling supposing that there is no lustful indecent look from the man.

Answer: Attending mixed swimming pools is not permissible, and also places that men and women are indecently dressed (semi-nude) if it results in a sin (Haram), also in accordance with obligatory precaution they should be avoided even if does not result in a sin (Haram).

Q2: Are men and women allowed to work together in the same company?

Answer: If there is no fear of falling into a sin, there would be no objection to it.

Q3: Is it permissible to attend a social gathering (non-Religious or non-educative gathering) in which women are in complete, proper Hijab?

Answer: It is permissible per se.

Q4: Can I eat at the house of Ahle Kitab even though their books aren’t the true Bible and Torah?

Answer: If their food is made from the meat, the fat, and their derivatives of an animal which has not been slaughtered according to Islamic rules, it is not permissible; otherwise, there is no problem.

Q5: What is the limit and scope of interaction for a revert to Islam whose family are not Muslims – they may either be People of the Book or non-believers? What guidance would you offer them?

Answer: He must keep good relationship with his parents, brothers and sisters and behave in such a manner that they are attracted towards the religion of Islam.

Ayatollah Makrim Shirazi – Rules Related to Socializing

A) Men Speaking to Non-Mahram Women

Ruling 1 – Men are allowed to speak to non-Mahram women as long as the following two conditions are met:

It is not with the intention of lust.

The speaking does not lead either one of them to commit a sin.

Ruling 2 – Question: If one fears that by talking to a certain non-Mahram woman he will fall into sin, then is it allowed for him to talk to her?

Answer: It is not allowed.

B) Women Talking to Non-Mahram Men

Ruling 3 – Women are permitted to speak to non-Mahram men if the following conditions are met:

The speaking is not done with the intention of lust and seeking (sexual) pleasure.

The woman does not make her voice soft and attractive.

There is no fear of falling into corruption.

Ruling 4 – Question: Is it allowed for women to recite in a chorus in the presence of non-Mahram men? What is the ruling for non-Mahram men to hear such a thing?

Answer: If it leads to corruption, then it is not allowed. Rather, normally, when women are singing or reciting in the presence of men and men are listening to it, this leads to corruption and thus, it is not allowed.

Answer: As long as there is no intention of lust or corruption involved, then women singing in a chorus and non-Mahram men listening to them, is not a problem.

Ruling 5 – It is not a problem for women to recite Qur’an in front of non-Mahram men, even if it is in a pleasing voice, with the condition that it is not arousing nor does it cause corruption.

If it leads to corruption, then it is not permitted; rather, most often, women reading (Qur’an) in the presence of men and men listening to such a thing leads to corruption and thus, it is not allowed.

Women and girls must not recite the Qur’an in a tone in the presence of non-Mahram men, and similarly, if a man is reciting in a way that a woman gets enjoyment (of a lustful type), then it is a problem.