Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu
From: acsghgk@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Hanif Khalak)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: mixing
Message-ID: <84879@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 16 Oct 90 19:46:17 GMT
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Reply-To: acsghgk@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu
Organization: University at Buffalo
Lines: 35
Approved: shari@wpi.wpi.edu


Assalamu alaikum,

	I would like to bring up an issue which has arisen in a 
student organization (not at SUNY) of which I am a part.  There seems 
to be a disagreement about whether Muslim sisters should participate 
in sitting at information tables for our organization (located outside 
in a busy area where people can walk by and stop to look/ask).  There 
are those who say that sisters are not supposed to do this type of 
activity, because of public 'exposure' and possible consequential 
interaction.  Others disagree in that the sisters would be able to 
provide a mode of communication for (non-Muslim) females to find out 
about Islam/the organization, and that in the natural course of campus 
activity and life, that the sisters would not normally (try/be able 
to) avoid the interaction with others, esp. non-Muslim males -- key 
aspect of the argument against the activity.

	Now, this discussion/argument has led to another (not new) 
issue as to whether Muslim men and women should be together in the 
same room for an organizational/whatever meeting conducting normal 
activities as such (discussion, voting, etc).  Similar aspects of 
argument as pertaining to the previous issue have been applied here.  

	I would very much appreciate the input of fellow Muslims on 
the net and elsewhere on this subject/issue.  It seems that the 
activity of the Muslimah's is necessarily defined by a resolution of 
this 'problem'.  I look forward, insha' Allah, to responses, and hope 
that all success is accorded to whom it is deserved.

						Jazak Allah kayra,
						Hanif Khalak

P.S.	I would like to thank the brother(s) who posted the letter 
	about Palestine.  It was very touching.  I wish that I could
	find strength and that I WOULD do something.  Wasala'am...