Campusalam

• Skip to main content
• Skip to main navigation
• Skip to search
• Skip to navigation for this section

Alcohol
Many University events and activities today involve alcohol. For Muslims who do not drink alcohol such events could be awkward or even impossible to attend. Muslims are not permitted to handle, serve, facilitate or promote the act of drinking. A variety of opinions and interpretations exists about what is permissible, so while some Muslims might attend, others might not. Non-alcoholic social events run by societies, clubs and departments would benefit students who do not drink alcohol so they can participate in social activities and get to know other members.

Dancing
Modesty and touching between the sexes is the key issue here. Dancing as an activity is not necessarily haram, but it does depend on the context and the environment. Traditional or ethnic dancing at a family celebration, especially if men and women are separated, is not usually seen to be a problem; whereas dancing of a flirtatious or sexy nature in a club is another matter altogether.

Inter-faith dialogue and activity
Islam permits Muslims to interact with non-Muslims, including those of other religions in order to spread the message of Islam and to develop social relations between the Muslim community and other communities. As ever, opinions will vary; many Muslims are active participants in inter-faith dialogue, usually through their University Islamic Society, and take part in inter-faith activities and events or organise inter-faith talks. Others will feel uncomfortable. It will depend on the context; taking part in a service which involves worship, prayers said or activities done which are incompatible with Islam might be a bridge too far for some.

Gender contact, physical and social
There are differences of opinion on the question of mild physical contact with the opposite sex in social situations. Some have no difficulty with shaking hands, for example, while others prefer not to for religious reasons; many Muslims seek to avoid any unnecessary contact with those of the opposite sex in order to uphold Islamic principles on social interaction between the sexes to preserve modesty and chastity. ‘Free mixing‘ is a term often used to denote socialising with non-related people of the opposite sex. Many conservative scholars are of the opinion that this is discouraged or even prohibited in Islam; although there might not be explicit verses in the Qur‘an prohibiting it, they feel many Qur‘anic verses and Hadith implicitly make this clear. Others, such as Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, argue that the example of the Prophet and the Rightly-Guided Caliphs indicated a more flexible position; based on intention, context, motivation, and weighing up the various risks and benefits. He concludes that meeting between men and women is not haram, but is acceptable or required if the objective is a noble one, connected to learning and knowledge or good deeds, a beneficial project or a necessary jihad. However, he stresses appropriate dress and conduct in these situations. It should be borne in mind nevertheless that some women and men might not feel comfortable being alone in private with unrelated members of the opposite sex.

Attitudes to women’s leadership
There is debate amongst Muslims about women holding positions of leadership and governance. Some schools of thought hold that women can hold leadership roles in government, such as scholars and judges. Within these schools of thought there is further deliberation over which field of law women judges can preside, based on verses of the Qur’an; such as considering the weight of a female witness’ testimony as only half that of a males. For some Muslims, the women who were trusted to narrate and compile the Qur’an are examples of women in high positions of responsibility and therefore it should be acceptable for women to become judges and scholars alike. For those who disagree with women holding leadership roles, their arguments usually centre on Qur’anic verses and traditions which support women’s primary roles as wives and mothers in the domestic sphere. There are examples from the family of the Prophet, particularly A’isha who led battles and was involved in political affairs without compromising Islamic guidance on virtue and modesty.