The Ruling on Shaking Hands with a Non-Mahram Woman
Question:
What is the ruling on shaking hands with a non-Mahram woman?
Answer:
It is haram. In “Bukhari and Muslim”, there is a narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said:
وما مست يد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سيد امرأة قط
“The hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman.”
In “Jami’ al-Tirmidhi”, there is a narration from Umaymah bint Ruqayqah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إنى لا أصافح النساء
“Indeed, I do not shake hands with women.”
Also, in “Bukhari and Muslim”, there is a narration from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كتب على ابن آدم حظه من الزنا ، فهو مدركه لا محالة ، فالعين تزني وزناها النظر ، والأذن تزني وزناها السمع ، واليد تزني وزناها البطش والرجل تزني وزناها المشي ، والفرج يصدق ذلك أو يكذبه
“A portion of adultery has been written for the son of Adam, which he will inevitably attain. So the eye commits adultery and its adultery is looking, the ear commits adultery and its adultery is hearing, the hand commits adultery and its adultery is touching, the foot commits adultery and its adultery is walking, and the private part either confirms or denies that.”
Imam al-Tabarani (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his “Mu’jam” from Ma’qil ibn Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لأن يطعن أحدكم بمخيط من حديد فى رأسه خير له من أن يمس امرأة لا تحل له
“That one of you be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he touch a woman who is not lawful for him.”
