not permitted to sit with them alone or be informal with them. The people who do this should fear the punishment of Allah Almighty, lest their affairs in this world and the Hereafter are destroyed.

Another point to bear in mind is that somebody does not become one’s father, brother or son simply by being called as such, and marriage is still able to take place in this situation. For example, for whatever reason, if a man was to call another woman his mother, this does not make the woman his mother and he would still be eligible to marry her.

In our society, these forms of statements have become common. What a strange set of affairs, in which we have men calling other women their mothers, some women calling men their blood brothers, and others calling people their sons or daughters. Some people even become the so-called uncles of young women. All of this leads to them sitting with one another in mixed gatherings and completely ignoring the rules of Shari’ah when it comes to veiling. They speak informally with one another, creating a wave of sinful actions.

Those who sit with the opposite gender in this shameful manner, should fear Allah Almighty. Remember, Satan will not tell you about his traps beforehand.

It has been narrated in a blessed Hadith: ‘Safeguard yourself from the world and women, as the first tribulation that occurred among Bani Israel was due to women.’ (Sahih Muslim, p. 1465, Hadith 2742)

Dear Islamic brothers! In order to save ourselves from the traps and manipulation of Satan, it is necessary for non-Mahram men and women to observe the veil between each other, to avoid meeting in private and to avoid unlawful glances, i.e. to protect their eyes.

In the beginning, lust will create a desire in the heart of a man and woman to be close to each other. After attaining closeness with one another, it leads to conversation, which then leads to informality. Then