Does the mixing of men and women divide into that which is forbidden and that which is not forbidden, despite the existence of fatwas prohibiting it entirely? And what is the ruling on the gathering of male and female relatives in one place, with women observing hijab and maintaining separation? And likewise, what about the study of girls in mixed universities, with them adhering to hijab and not mixing except out of necessity?

There are two types of mixing (ikhtilat): prohibited and permissible. Prohibited mixing is the gathering of men and women without adherence to the Islamic guidelines, such as physical contact or women not observing hijab. As for permissible mixing, it is merely gathering for a legitimate need while adhering to the Islamic guidelines, such as their presence in the mosque in separate rows. The default rule for mixing, when stated absolutely, is prohibition, and it refers to the forbidden type because it is the common usage. Family gatherings must be regulated by Islamic guidelines.