Ruling on shaking hands with an elderly stranger woman
Question:
What is the ruling on shaking hands with a stranger woman? And if one places a cloth or similar barrier over one’s hand, what is the ruling then? Also, will the ruling differ depending on whether the person shaking hands is young or old, and whether the woman being greeted is elderly?
Answer:
Shaking hands with non-mahram women, whether they are young or old, and whether the one shaking hands is young or an old, frail man, is not permissible in any circumstance, because it carries the risk of both of them falling into temptation. The following saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is established with a sound chain:
إني لا أصافح النساء
“Indeed, I do not shake hands with women.”
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, has also narrated:
ما مست يد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يد امرأة قط ما كان يبايعهن إلا بالكلام
“The hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman; he would only take the pledge from them by word of mouth.”
Due to the general evidences and to block the means of temptation, there is no difference between shaking hands with a cloth or similar barrier over the hand and shaking hands without one.
