It was a common practice in Arab society before the advent of Islam for men and women to sit together and have casual conversations. This was not considered a vice nor looked upon as a cause for suspicion.[1]
Imam Mujahid (d. 104 AH) said:
“Women would go out and walk intermingling with men, this was the display of the former times of ignorance,”[2] referring to the ayah: “and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.” [33:33]
This practice continued into the early stages of Islam. Women believers were initially neither obliged to cover or conceal themselves from men, nor were they prohibited from intermingling or conversing with them.[3]
It was in the month of Dhūl Qʿadah in the 5th year of Hijrah, when the verses of hijab were revealed[4] that these pre-Islamic practices came to an end.