Segregation is a Bid’ah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The segregation of the genders was not rigorously practiced in the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) Mosque in his time.  The women prayed in rows behind the men.  And there was no screen; neither were they relegated to some side room.  Other than that, they were free to conduct their business, and interact with people as required, not as a frivolity.  That is because their hearts were clean, and there was no suspicion of each other’s motives. 

Why is there such an emphasis on segregation by many Muslims?  And it is noticeable that there is an excessive focus on the hijab, the way women dress, the way they talk, the way they walk, the way the wear their hair.  And mostly by men.  And these people focus so much on the discussion of polygamy, and only on the sexual nature of it.  These are all signs of hypocrisy, and a sickness in the heart.  It does not matter how much the men and women are segregated, if there is no segregation in their hearts, and no lowering of their gaze.