Limits within which mixing is permitted among family members
Question

                What are the limits for mixing among family members? I mean mixing between women and men. We are a tight-knit family but they do not understand the issue of mixing. You will find male cousins (the sons of a maternal aunt) regarding the daughters of their maternal aunt as being like their sisters, but within certain limits, i.e., the limit of greeting with salaam only, and not shaking hands, and within the limit of speaking respectfully, not in an inappropriate manner. Is that permissible?
Praise be to Allah.
	Islam brought clear guidelines to regulate the relationship 
	between a man and a woman who is a stranger (non-mahram) to him and to 
	prevent the occurrence of any fitnah (temptation) to him or to her. That 
	includes the following:

	1.
	
	Prohibition on 
	being alone with a member of the opposite sex

	because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
	him) said: “No man is alone with a woman except the third one present is the 
	Shaytaan.” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2165); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani 
	in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.

	According to another report: “Whoever believes in Allah and 
	the Last Day, let him not be alone with a woman who does not have a mahram 
	with her, for the third one present will be the Shaytaan.”

	Narrated by Ahmad; classed as saheeh by al-Haakim and 
	adh-Dhahabi agreed with him. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ghaayat 
	al-Maraam (180)

	2.
	
	Prohibition on 
	shaking hands and touching

	because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
	him) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is 
	better for him than touching a woman who is not permissible for him.”

	Narrated by at-Tabaraani from the hadith of Ma‘qil ibn Yasaar; 
	classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ no. 5045.

	3.
	
	Prohibition on a 
	man looking at a woman

	because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the 
	meaning):

	“Tell the believing men to lower 
	their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private 
	parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, 
	Allah is All-Aware of what they do.
And tell 
	the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), 
	and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to 
	show off their adornment except only that which is apparent”

	[an-Noor 24:30-31].

	In Saheeh Muslim (2159) it is narrated that Jareer ibn 
	‘Abdullah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I asked the Messenger of Allah 
	(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about an accidental glance and he 
	instructed me to avert my gaze.

	As for a woman looking at a man without desire, it is 
	permissible according to the more correct opinion.

	4.
	
	Prohibition on 
	speaking softly in the case of women

	because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the 
	meaning):

	“then be not soft in speech, 
	lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for 
	adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable 
	manner”

	[al-Ahzaab 33:32].

	5.
	
	Obligation to 
	cover the ‘awrah

	and the woman’s ‘awrah in front of non-mahram men is all of 
	her body, including the face and hands. See the answer to question no.
	11774.

	These guidelines apply to the interaction of a woman with any 
	man who is a stranger (non-mahram) to her, even if he is a relative, such as 
	her cousin (son of her paternal uncle or son of her maternal aunt). In fact 
	she should be more cautious and prudent when interacting with relatives, 
	because a relative is seen frequently, as he comes and goes a great deal, 
	which helps to give rise to fitnah if the guidelines outlined above are not 
	followed. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: 
	“Beware of entering upon women. A man from among the Ansaar said: O 
	Messenger of Allah, what about the in-law? He said: “The in-law is death.”

	Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4934) and Muslim (2172).

	The word translated here as in-law refers to the husband’s 
	brother, cousin and other similar relatives.

	As for simply greeting with salaam, without shaking hands, or 
	speaking when necessary without any softness of speech, or being in the same 
	place, so long as proper covering is observed and being alone together is 
	avoided, there is nothing wrong with that.

	In some societies, for a woman to adhere to these guidelines 
	may appear strange, because of lack of knowledge and the prevalence of those 
	who are too lenient. So the woman should be patient, and explain and clarify 
	the rulings to the best of her ability.

	We ask Allah to guide us and you, and to make us all 
	steadfast.

	And Allah knows best.