Shaykh Ibn Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) was asked:

What is the ruling on muraasalah (correspondence) between young men and women,
knowing that this correspondence is free from immorality, ‘ishq
(passionate love), and I always begin the letters with وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ
شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا (…and made you into nations and
tribes, that you may know one another.)[Al-Hujuraat 49:13]?

He, rahimahullah, replied:

“It is not permissible for anyone to have correspondence with a non-mahram woman, due to the fitnah (that is) involved. The one having the conversation may think there is no fitnah (in that), but however the Shaytaan remains with him until he seduces him with her and her with him.

The Prophet (salla Allaah ‘alaihi wasallam) ordered the one who hears of the Dajjaal to flee far away from him, and he said that a man may come to him as a believer but the Dajjaal will keep on at him until he
makes him fall into his fitnah.

Correspondence of young men with young women involves a great deal of
fitnah and danger, and it must be avoided, even if the questioner says that there is no love or desire involved.

As for men corresponding with men and women with women, then there is
nothing wrong in it except if it contains evil.”

Taken From The Book:

Fataawa al Mar’ah al Muslimah (2/578).

Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him, was asked:

What is the ruling on having conversations with young women by email and what is the ruling of it, if it is beneficial for example speaking to an woman poet (to benefit from her poetry)?

A:
The origin is that is not permissible if it is occurring from non mahram men for them (the women) due to what it contains of fitnah and harm, even if she is a poet because preventing harm has precedence over bring out good. Majority of the times the ending of (these cases) are awful due to the youth having conversations with young women (by email) …”

The reference is the official website of the Shaykh :

http://www.alfawzan.ws/AlFawzan/Fatw…57&PageID=1416

Translated by Abu Fajr Abdulfattah