Free Mixing (Ikhtilāṭ) as a Moral Practice in Education and Society: Islamic Ethics, Key Islamic Terms, and Personality Dynamism among the Indigenous Mëranaws

Abstract

This ethnographic study explored how Mëranaw Muslims in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, understand and manage free mixing (ikhtilāṭ) within Islamic ethics, education, and local cultural norms. Thirty-five purposively selected participants were engaged through observations, semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and reflexive journaling. Thematic analysis examined behavioral patterns, moral reasoning, and cultural meanings in mixed-gender educational and social settings. Participants viewed ikhtilāṭ as a morally sensitive space requiring intention, modesty, respectful speech, regulated physical proximity, and avoidance of gossip or illicit relationships. These practices demonstrate how Mëranaw individuals negotiate faith, culture, and daily interaction while preserving personal dignity, communal honor, and social cohesion.