Is the separation of women in social gatherings truly an Islamic concept or has it come from ancient Persian cultural practice?

Islam promotes the segregation of the sexes as a religious obligation and%0D%0Anot as a cultural tradition as claimed by this author. There are a number of%0D%0AAhaadith to substantiate this obligation.%0D%0A%0D%0AA person who claims that free intermingling of sexes is permitted is guilty%0D%0Aof an act of Kufr. Refer below.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Muhammad Kadwa%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A%0D%0ACHECKED AND APPROVED CORRECT: Mufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0A%0D%0AIt is rather unfortunate that sin and evil has become so rife nowadays that%0D%0Apeople don't even regard sin as sin anymore and how true are the words of%0D%0Aour beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), 'A time will dawn upon man%0D%0Athat Zina (adultery) will become so widespread that the most pious man in%0D%0Athis world will be that person who witnesses two people doing evil on the%0D%0Astreet pavement. This person would go up to them and say to them that go and%0D%0Ado your action behind a tree, he will not stop them from the evil rather he%0D%0Awould tell them that instead of doing it in front of everybody, go and do%0D%0Ayour actions behind a tree. The person who tells them this will be the most%0D%0Apious person. Today, we are presently experiencing the above adultery is%0D%0Abeing done openly, everywhere without any prohibition or obstruction.'%0D%0A(Islahi Khutubaat, Mufti Taqi Usmani vol.7 pg.32)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn an Aayat of the noble Qur'aan, Allah Ta'ala commands the believers, 'Say%0D%0A(O' Muhammad) unto the believers lower your gazes and protect your private%0D%0Aparts. That is more pure for you. Verily, Allah is all informed of what you%0D%0Aare doing.' (Surah Nur). Evil glances is to look at any Ghayr Mahram%0D%0Aespecially with desire or to attain pleasure whether the person is alive or%0D%0Ait is a picture. Both situations are totally Haraam. The greatest hindrance%0D%0Afor the reformation and purification of the innerself is the sin of evil%0D%0Aglances. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) explained in a Hadith, 'Evil%0D%0Aglances is a poisonous arrow from the arrows of Iblees.' (Majmauz Zawaaid%0D%0Avol.8 pg.63)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn another Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned, '. The Zina%0D%0Aof the eyes is in evil glances and Zina of the ears is by listening (to%0D%0Aevil) and Zina of the tongue speaking (about evil) and Zina of the hands is%0D%0Ain touching (forbidden) and Zina of feet is in walking (towards evil) and%0D%0Athe heart desires and hopes (in evil) and thereafter the private parts%0D%0Aaccepts that (acts upon it) or rejects it.' (Mishkaat pg.20)%0D%0A%0D%0ATherefore, according to Shari'ah, to look, speak, listen, etc. to any Ghayr%0D%0AMahram except at the time of extreme necessity is Haraam and impermissible.%0D%0AIn an Aayat of the noble Qur'aan, Allah Ta'ala says, 'And when you ask (his%0D%0Awives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer%0D%0Afor your hearts and their hearts.' Although the reason for revelation is a%0D%0Aspecific incident and the wives of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) are%0D%0Aspecifically mentioned but this is general for the entire Ummah, i.e. if%0D%0Athe woman wants to get something from the men, e.g. utensils, clothing, etc.%0D%0Athus, she not come in front of him, rather ask for it from behind a veil.%0D%0A(Ma'aariful Qur'aan vol.7 pg.200; Idaaratul Ma'aarif)%0D%0A%0D%0AIn another Aayat, Allah Ta'ala says, 'And stay in your homes and do not%0D%0Adisplay yourselves, like that at the time of ignorance.' (Surah Ahzaab 33%0D%0Avol.33). Therefore, the command unto women is to stay at home and only come%0D%0Aout at the time of a necessity which is sanctioned by the Shari'ah, should a%0D%0Aneed arise, total Shar'ee Hijaab should be adhered to.%0D%0A%0D%0ABy a person fighting his Nafs and saving himself from sinning, he will%0D%0Aattain the sweetness of Imaan. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'A%0D%0Athought comes into a person to cast evil glances and who is that person who%0D%0Adoesn't get these thoughts and his heart is also encouraging him to just%0D%0Atake a look! But he fears Allah and saves himself by not casting an evil%0D%0Aglance. This will cause a great burden but Allah Ta'ala will grant such%0D%0Asweetness of Imaan that he won't even consider looking in future.' (Ahmad%0D%0Avol.5 pg.264)%0D%0A%0D%0AIt is, therefore, imperative that awareness should be created amongst the%0D%0AMuslim students to both male and female regarding the importance and laws of%0D%0AShari'ah especially with regards to Hijaab and intermingling of the sexes.%0D%0AThe administration of MSA should be encouraged to adhere to the laws of%0D%0AShari'ah, contextually, the laws of Hijaab.