❀ Prohibition of Handshaking with Non-Mahram Women: An Islamic Perspective
❀ Introduction:
Islam places a high emphasis on maintaining modesty and moral boundaries between men and women. One of these boundaries is the prohibition of physical contact, including handshaking, between non-mahram individuals. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and statements of the righteous predecessors clearly affirm that such interaction is not permissible.
❀ The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
① Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah (RA) stated:
"By Allah! The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman (during Bayʿah). He would simply say, 'I have taken your pledge verbally.'"
✿ This shows the Prophet ﷺ maintained complete physical separation even during formal oaths.
② Sayyidah Umaymah bint Ruqayqah (RA) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Indeed, I do not shake hands with women."
③ Collective Testimony from Women:
The women themselves testified:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not shake hands with any of us."
④ Sayyiduna ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr (RA) stated:
"The Prophet ﷺ did not shake hands with women during Bayʿah."
⑤ Sayyiduna Maʿqil ibn Yasar (RA) narrated:
"It is better for one of you to be pierced in the head with an iron needle than to touch a woman who is unlawful for him."
✿ A powerful warning illustrating the gravity of this act.
❀ Refuting Weak and Fabricated Reports:
Several narrations used to justify handshaking with non-mahram women are weak or fabricated:
① Claim: The Prophet ﷺ shook hands with women through a cloth.
This narration is mursal and contains issues of tadlīs, making it unreliable.
② Claim: The Prophet ﷺ shook hands with elderly women, not the young.
This narration is fabricated, has unknown narrators, and is absent from major hadith compilations.
③ Popular Hanafi Fiqh References:
Some texts report:
"Whoever touches the palm of a woman not lawful for him will have a coal placed in his palm on the Day of Judgment."
✿ These are not established through authentic isnād and are rejected by scholars.
✔ Summary:
❀ Handshaking between non-mahram men and women is prohibited in Islam.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ never shook hands with women during pledges, setting a clear precedent.
❀ All authentic hadiths prohibit such physical contact, emphasizing modesty and boundaries.
❀ Weak or fabricated narrations cannot be used to justify unlawful actions.
⚠ Important Reminder:
Maintaining the teachings and practice of the Prophet ﷺ in matters of modesty is essential to preserving the sanctity and dignity of Islamic values. Handshaking may seem trivial to some, but the Shari’ah regards it as a serious matter of morality and discipline.
❀ Introduction:
Islam places a high emphasis on maintaining modesty and moral boundaries between men and women. One of these boundaries is the prohibition of physical contact, including handshaking, between non-mahram individuals. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and statements of the righteous predecessors clearly affirm that such interaction is not permissible.
❀ The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ:
① Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah (RA) stated:
"By Allah! The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman (during Bayʿah). He would simply say, 'I have taken your pledge verbally.'"
✿ This shows the Prophet ﷺ maintained complete physical separation even during formal oaths.
② Sayyidah Umaymah bint Ruqayqah (RA) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Indeed, I do not shake hands with women."
③ Collective Testimony from Women:
The women themselves testified:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not shake hands with any of us."
④ Sayyiduna ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAmr (RA) stated:
"The Prophet ﷺ did not shake hands with women during Bayʿah."
⑤ Sayyiduna Maʿqil ibn Yasar (RA) narrated:
"It is better for one of you to be pierced in the head with an iron needle than to touch a woman who is unlawful for him."
✿ A powerful warning illustrating the gravity of this act.
❀ Refuting Weak and Fabricated Reports:
Several narrations used to justify handshaking with non-mahram women are weak or fabricated:
① Claim: The Prophet ﷺ shook hands with women through a cloth.
This narration is mursal and contains issues of tadlīs, making it unreliable.② Claim: The Prophet ﷺ shook hands with elderly women, not the young.
This narration is fabricated, has unknown narrators, and is absent from major hadith compilations.③ Popular Hanafi Fiqh References:
Some texts report:
"Whoever touches the palm of a woman not lawful for him will have a coal placed in his palm on the Day of Judgment."
✿ These are not established through authentic isnād and are rejected by scholars.
✔ Summary:
❀ Handshaking between non-mahram men and women is prohibited in Islam.
❀ The Prophet ﷺ never shook hands with women during pledges, setting a clear precedent.
❀ All authentic hadiths prohibit such physical contact, emphasizing modesty and boundaries.
❀ Weak or fabricated narrations cannot be used to justify unlawful actions.
⚠ Important Reminder:
Maintaining the teachings and practice of the Prophet ﷺ in matters of modesty is essential to preserving the sanctity and dignity of Islamic values. Handshaking may seem trivial to some, but the Shari’ah regards it as a serious matter of morality and discipline.
