There is always huge wisdom behind Allah's orders, and the same goes with the Mahram issue. For a Muslim, the most important thing is his/her modesty, and it's extremely worrying to see that modesty isn't taken as a highly important and respectful characteristic anymore. Somehow, most people-Muslims included- restrict the concept of modesty simply to their attire and nothing more. One important thing to be remembered is that Hijab, for both men and women, is not only to with with clothes. Rather, it's a complete set of morals and conduct.
Back to the topic now. I've heard more than one story about intermixing on the internet, particularly on Facebook and chatrooms, and how it has lead to extremely distressful consequences. I know that Muslims often overlook that fact that intermixing with their non-mahrams in not allowed in Islam, and most of them don't see it as a sin in the first place. May Allah guide me, you and everyone else! I did put up on Twitter about the dangers of intermixing with non-mahram, but most people get the message only after they have read some real story about the dangers of Facebook and other social networking sites. So, I heard a story- a very, very disturbing one, and I just have to share it with all of you. It's true and it did happen, which is why I'm telling it now.
A girl and a man started communicating via Facebook. They got familiar with each other, and very soon, they fell in love and expressed their feelings to each other.. Not much later afterwards, they decided to meet up at a local restaurant. So, they set up a date, and decided that they would meet at such an such a place, etc, etc. Now both, the girl and the man went to the restaurant at the time appointed, and Subhanallah, none of them ever expected to see what they saw: The girl and man communicating all that while on Facebook where in fact a daughter and her very own father! What a shock it must have been for both of them! Apparently, both of them had gone under different Facebook usernames, so they didn't know who they were talking to. But see where it lead. After all the confessions of love, it turns out to be a father and daughter... Imagine the situation of the mother when she got to know all about it? May Allah save all Muslims from the Fitna of the internet. Aameen!
I'm not saying here that you shouldn't use the internet. What I'm saying here is that you should be aware of your limits, aware of Shariah, aware of what you're doing, and more importantly, aware of the fact that wherever you may be, Allah is watching you. This thought alone is enough to save a true Muslim from any shameful behaviour.
By the way, this isn't the only story I've heard about the consequences of intermixing online. Almost everyday, people are being plunged into extra-marital relationships, haraam dating, etc, and the simple reason behind this is that people aren't aware of the consequences of it. When a man and woman talk to each other alone, Shaytan is the third person in their midst, and he will try his best to create feeling that ought not to be created between those two people. Remember that whatever sin you may be doing, or whatever sin you may already have done, Allah is watching you, and He will bring the truth out in the Aakhira, if not in this world itself. Nothing is hidden from Him.
If there's anyone of you reading this has any relationship with a man/woman online, the only bit of advice I can give you is to fear Allah. You know it's a sin now, and you know what it may lead to, so stay away from it. All relationships start with a 'Hi' and end up in God knows what, so stick to the Shariah and follow what Allah has asked us to. Please do steer clear from interacting with non-mahrams!
