Online Work That Involves Interacting with the Opposite Sex
29-7-2025 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalamualaikum, I’m a 18-year-old male Muslim university student. I want to work online by making study plans and posting Islamic study content on Instagram.Is it haram if:1. Females message me privately about their study needs so I can plan for them?2. Some have profile pictures showing ‘awrah and they comment on my posts, or if there are general haram interactions (e.g. joking between genders in the comment section)? Tell me Haram elements I should avoid .
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
May Allah reward you for your eagerness to learn Islamic rulings and your caution against what may anger Allah.
In principle, there is no harm in doing the work you intend to do online. Furthermore, speaking with girls is permissible when necessary, as long as the conversation is limited to what is needed and you remain cautious to avoid anything that could lead to temptation.
Moreover, if a girl has a photo showing something that Islam does not permit a woman to show, that does not prevent you from working with her. However, you must protect yourself by not looking at the image. If your eyes fall on something forbidden by accident, then turn your gaze away. This is based on a Hadith in Saheeh Muslim, where Jarir ibn Abdullah 
said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, about an unintentional glance, and he ordered me that I divert my sight.”
Imam An-Nawawi 
explained: “An accidental glance means that your eyes fall on a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman without intending to. There’s no sin for the first unintentional look, but you must turn your gaze immediately. If you do, there’s no sin. But if you continue looking, then it becomes sinful based on this Hadith.” [End quote]
As for joking between men and non-Mahram women, even online, it is not allowed, as it may lead to temptation. However, this does not make your work forbidden, as long as you avoid what is clearly prohibited, like looking at what should not be seen. Lastly, you also have a duty to give advice and remind others of Allah, acting on the words of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: “The religion is Naseehah (sincere advice).” [Muslim]
Allah knows best.