group/text/email message communication between colleagues

Question

Asslamu Alaykum,
Question 1:
If there are 4-5 non mehram Muslim and non-Muslim married males and females that work/study together, and they have a group message created for the purpose of work/study, then when they graudtae or leave work, is it permissible for them to stay in touch via text messaging/emails. 
Since it's not work/school related anymore, is it okay to have a group message to just stay in touch? 
Question 2:
If a lady wears a niqab/or doesn't, and she maintains the necessary distance from non mehram males, is it permissible to attend mixed gatherings?
Is it okay for a niqab wearing/or non-niqab wearing Muslimah to socialize with non mehram men? Given that she is married and her husband is with her? 
Same for a Muslim man, if he is practicing and trys to observe hijab as much as possible, it it okay for him to attend mixed gatherings? 
If possible, can you please give me a response that includes perspective from all 4 schools of thought?
Jazakallahu Khairan.

Shariah Board of America · Accepted Answer

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
It is not permissible for you to talk to each other unnecessarily in this way.
It is forbidden to hold a mixed assembly of men and women with or without a veil because of fear of immodesty and temptations. It is important to avoid participating in such gatherings. 
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ(النور:۳۰
Similarly, even when a married woman is accompanied by her husband or not, and whether a man is a practicing Muslim or not, participating in gatherings of &ldquo;non-Mahrams&rdquo; is not permissible in Shariah. 
ما في &rsquo;&rsquo; القرآن الکریم &lsquo;&lsquo; : {یآیہا النبي قل لأزواجک وبنٰتک ونسآء المؤمنین یدنین علیہن من جلابیبہن} ۔ (سورۃ الأحزاب : ۵۹
ما في &rsquo;&rsquo; أحکام القرآن للجصاص &lsquo;&lsquo; : قال أبو بکر : ہذہ الآیۃ دلالۃ علی أن المرأۃ الشابۃ مأمورۃ بستر وجہہا عن الأجنبیین ، وإظہار الستر والعفاف عند الخروج ، لئلا یطمع أہل الریب فیہن ۔ (۳/۴۸۶
ما في &rsquo;&rsquo; السنن لأبي داود &lsquo;&lsquo; : عن حمزۃ بن أبي أسید الأنصاري رضي اللہ تعالی عنہ ، عن أبیہ أنہ سمع رسول اللہ ﷺ یقول ، وہو خارج من المسجد ، فاختلط الرجال مع النساء في الطریق ، فقال رسول اللہ ﷺ للنساء : &ldquo;استأخرن ، فإنہ لیس لکن أن تخفقن الطریق ، علیکن بحافات الطریق&rdquo; ، فکانت المرأۃ تلصق بالجدار ، حتی أن ثوبہا لیتعلق بالجدار من لصوقہا بہ &lsquo;&lsquo; ۔ (ص/۷۱۴  ، ۷۱۵   کتاب الأدب ، باب في مشي النساء مع الرجال في الطریق )
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