Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
In Islam, enforcing free-mixing or banning hijab is a grave sin, but it does not amount to disbelief unless the person believes such rules are better than Allah’s laws. Committing sin out of desire is different from rejecting divine law.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
What do you mean by “free mixing in the workspace”? Are you saying he wants men and women to work together in the same office or building? If so, I don’t see any issue with that as long as they follow Islamic guidelines in their interactions.
As recorded in historical sources, men and women used to interact in public during the Prophet’s time. There’s a great book on this topic by Abu Shuqqah called Tahriri Al-Mar’ah Al-Muslimah fi `Ahd Ar-Risalah (Liberation of Muslim women during the era of the Prophet, peace be upon him).
Now let us come to the point you raised about the hijab:
Do you mean by Hijab a woman wearing an abayah or the traditional Middle Eastern dress?
If so, it’s not necessary. Women can meet Islamic modesty requirements by wearing clothing that covers them without a face veil.
To explain the Islamic dress code, let me quote from an earlier response:
Islamic dress code for women and men involves modest attire that preserves human dignity while concealing parts of the body that may attract unwanted attention from the opposite sex. It reflects purity and chastity, not preventing active societal participation.
In Islam, both men and women must guard their looks, actions, and thoughts when interacting with the opposite sex. The Quran and Prophetic precedents instruct men to avoid tight, transparent, or revealing clothes that may invite unwanted attention. Although the requirements differ between men and women for physiological reasons, the underlying principle remains the same.
Islamically, women’s dress code requires loose, modest clothing that covers the entire body except for the face, hands, or feet up to the ankles when necessary for daily work. This code is based on the consensus of jurists and scholars from all schools of Islamic jurisprudence worldwide. While some debate exists about revealing the face and hands, most agree it’s permissible for daily business and human interactions.
Leading works of Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence, including those of At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi, Ibn Atiyyah, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Al-Humam, Ibn `Abidin, An-Nawawi, Shirazi, Suhnun, Ad-Dusuqi, Ibn Qudamah, Jad Al-Haq, Makhluf, Al-Qaradawi, Zaydan, and others, support this position.
It’s essential to note that this dress code only applies in public spaces where women interact with men. Women are free to wear what they choose in the privacy of their homes with their spouses.
Some Muslim men and women may not observe these rules, but those who are conscious of their religion consider them an absolute requirement and would view failure to comply as a breach of faith. The fact that others may not live up to these ideals should not be used against those who wish to do so.
Before closing, let me emphasize this critical point: if someone believes it is Okay for men and women to dress improperly at the office and behave permissively and casually, they are disobeying Allah’s commands and committing a grave sin.
If they think this behavior is allowed, they will be leaving Islam. There is a difference between committing a sin and making it lawful. Whoever makes the unlawful acceptable or the acceptable unlawful will be going out of the fold of Islam.
May Allah keep our hearts steadfast and firm on the straight path. Amen.
👉 Read more on related rulings:
- Can Men and Women Work Together in Islam?
- Are Women Allowed to Work in Islam?
- Can Muslim Women Work at Beauty Salon?
- Are Women Allowed to Drive in Islam?
- Can a Muslim Woman Be a TV Announcer?
- Are Women Permitted to Serve on Mosque Boards?
- Is It Haram to Go to a Mixed Gym?
- Mixed Gatherings for Weddings: OK?
- Having Mixed Gatherings in the Community Center Next to the Mosque: Permissible?
Almighty Allah knows best.