Who bears the consequences of mixing – men or women?

Mixing between men and women at work has bad consequences and
obvious evil effects on both men and women, including the following: 

1 – Haraam looking. Allaah has commanded both believing men
and believing women to lower their gaze. He 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). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All‑Aware of what they do.

31. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from
looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal
sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is
apparent…”

[al-Noor 24:30-31]

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

2 – It may result in haraam touching., which includes shaking
hands. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle, that
would be better for him than his touching a woman who is not permissible for
him.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani from Ma’qil ibn Yasaar; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ no. 5045. 

3 – Mixing may lead to a man being alone with a non-mahram
woman, which is haraam because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “No man is alone with a woman but the third one
present is the shaytaan.” Narated by al-Tirmidhi (2165); classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

According to another report: “Whoever believes in Allaah and
the Last Day, let him not be alone with a woman who has no mahram present,
for the third one present will be the shaytaan.” Narrated by Ahmad and
classed as saheeh by al-Hakaim, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him; it was also
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ghaayat al-Maraam (180). 

4 – Another of its evil consequences is when a man becomes
infatuated with a woman, or vice versa, which is due to mixing and prolonged
interaction. 

5 – That may lead to the break-up of families. How many men
have neglected their wives and lost their families, because they were
infatuated with a female classmate or colleague? How many women have lost
their husbands and neglected their homes for the same reason. Indeed, how
many cases of divorce have been caused by haraam relationships formed by the
husband or wife, and mixing at work was the thing that lead to that. 

For these and other reasons, Islam forbids mixing that leads
to these evils. The evidence for the prohibition on mixing has been
discussed in detail in the answer to question no.
1200. 

The natural situation for women is to stay at home, because
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And stay in your houses,
and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance”
[al-Ahzaab 33:33]. 

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  This means:
stay in your houses and do not come out unnecessarily. End quote. 

Those who should work to earn money and do different jobs and
professions are the men, but even though this is the natural way and the
woman is the one who is transgressing the limits and crowding with men in
the workplace, and going out fully adorned, and doing things that Allaah has
forbidden, all of that is no justification for a Muslim man doing that which
Allaah has forbidden him to do, rather he will be questioned about his
actions. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “No person earns
any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear
the burden of another” [al-An’aam 6:164]. 

The Muslim is enjoined to adhere to the limits set by Allaah,
and not to transgress them just because other people do so; rather he is
required to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil as much as he can,
not to take the fact that people do evil deeds as a justification for
falling into them himself. Hence our advice to every Muslim is to strive to
keep his heart free of the effects of fitan (tribulations and temptations),
especially the fitnah of women of which the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have not left after me any fitnah
that is more harmful to men than women.” Agreed upon. 

He should also keep away from those places which the shaytaan
takes as a starting point to gradually tempt people from one sin to another
that is worse than it. We should have certain faith that the one who puts
his trust in Allaah will find that He is sufficient for him, and if one
fears Him, He will grant a way out. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):  

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He
will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine”

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

So the Muslim should strive to find work where there is no
mixing with women; if he cannot find it, let him fear Allaah as much as he
can, by lowering his gaze and avoiding talking to women unnecessarily, or
going beyond that to laughing and joking, or being alone with a woman, for a
huge fire may start with a single spark. 

May Allaah help us all to do that which He loves and which
pleases Him. 

And Allaah knows best.