Shaking Hands with a Non-Mahram

**بنت الأزور** · 03-26-2011 01:09 AM

Shaking Hands with a Non-Mahram

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Mahram : woman/man whom he/she is not permitted to marry
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This is one of the cases where incorrect social customs have taken precedence over the laws of Allah , to such an extent that if you try to talk to people and show them evidence that this is wrong , they will accuse you of being backward , having a complex , trying to break family ties , doubting their good intentions , and other things . Shaking hands with female cousins , brothers' wives and uncles' wives is now easier than drinking water in our society , but if we look properly we will understand the seriousness of the matter
.

The Prophet said
:

"
If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle it would be better for him than touching a woman whom he is not permitted to touch
"
[ Reported by al-Tabaraani , 20/212 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami' , 4921 ]

There is no doubt that this is an act of zinaa ( adultery ) , because the Prophet said
:

"
The eyes may commit zinaa ( adultery ) , the hands may commit zinaa , the feet may commit zinaa and the private parts may commit zinaa
"
[ Reported by Imaam Ahmad , 1/412 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami' , 4921 ]

Is there anyone more pure in heart than Muhammad ? Yet still , he said
:

" I do not shake hands with women "
]
Reported by Imaam Ahmad , 6/357 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami' , 7054 , and al-Isaabah , 4/354 , Daar al-Kitaab al-'Arabi edition
[

He also said
:

" I do not touch the hands of women "
]
Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer , 24/342 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami' , 7054 and al-Isaabah , 4/354 , Dar al-Kutub al-'Arabi edition
[

Aa'ishah said
:
"
No , by Allah , the hand of the Messenger of Allah never touched the hand of ( non-Mahram ) woman . He received bay'ah ( pledge of allegiance ) from them by word only
."
[ Reported by Muslim , 3/489 ]

Let those who threaten their pious wives with divorce if they do not shake hands with their brothers fear Allah . We should also note that placing a barrier such as a piece of cloth is of no use ; it is still haraam ( prohibited ) to shake hands with a non-mahram woman
.