the road; walk along its edge.” That is, they should not walk in the middle of the road. ‘Alī, peace be upon him, said, “Does none of you feel protective jealousy when uncouth men jostle his wife shoulder to shoulder?” He meant in the marketplace.

Likewise, when the Emigrants arrived in Medina, the unmarried men would lodge in a house set apart for them, separate from the homes of married people. An unmarried man would thus not lodge among married households. All this is because the mingling of one group with the other gives rise to temptation. Men mingling with women is like bringing fire and firewood together. Likewise, an unmarried man living among married households presents a temptation, since he lacks a restraint against it. Temptation arises when the incentive is present and the restraint is absent. An effeminate man, who is neither fully masculine nor a chaste woman, cannot be allowed to mingle with either group. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, therefore ordered that he be removed from among the people.

Accordingly, an effeminate boy or man is not to be allowed to associate with men, nor should a woman who imitates men associate with women. Rather, certain males should be kept apart from one another, as should certain females, when temptation is feared. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Instruct them to pray at seven, beat them for neglecting it at ten, and separate them in