Ruling on Shaking Hands with a Non-Mahram Woman in Light of Ḥadīth
Question:
What is the ruling on shaking hands with a non-mahram woman?
Answer:
It is ḥarām (forbidden).
In Bukhārī and Muslim, Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
«وما مست يد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يد امرأة قط»
“The hand of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 4983; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 1866]
In Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Ummaymah bint Ruqayqah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«إني لا أصافح النساء»
“Indeed, I do not shake hands with women.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan al-Nasāʾī, ḥadīth 4181]
Also, in Bukhārī and Muslim, Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allāh 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»
“The son of Ādam has his share of adultery decreed for him, which he will inevitably commit. The adultery of the eyes is looking, the adultery of the ears is listening, the adultery of the hands is touching, the adultery of the feet is walking, and the private parts confirm or deny that.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 5889; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 2657]
Imām al-Ṭabarānī رحمه الله narrated in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr from Maʿqil ibn Yasār رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«لأن يطعن أحدكم بمخيط من حديد فى رأسه خير له من أن يمس امرأة لا تحل له»
“For one of you to be pierced in the head with an iron needle is better for him than to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ — al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī 20/211]
(Fatwā by: Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī رحمه الله)
Question:
What is the ruling on shaking hands with a non-mahram woman?
Answer:
It is ḥarām (forbidden).
In Bukhārī and Muslim, Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
«وما مست يد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يد امرأة قط»
“The hand of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 4983; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 1866]
In Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Ummaymah bint Ruqayqah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«إني لا أصافح النساء»
“Indeed, I do not shake hands with women.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan al-Nasāʾī, ḥadīth 4181]
Also, in Bukhārī and Muslim, Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allāh 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»
“The son of Ādam has his share of adultery decreed for him, which he will inevitably commit. The adultery of the eyes is looking, the adultery of the ears is listening, the adultery of the hands is touching, the adultery of the feet is walking, and the private parts confirm or deny that.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 5889; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 2657]
Imām al-Ṭabarānī رحمه الله narrated in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr from Maʿqil ibn Yasār رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«لأن يطعن أحدكم بمخيط من حديد فى رأسه خير له من أن يمس امرأة لا تحل له»
“For one of you to be pierced in the head with an iron needle is better for him than to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ — al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr by al-Ṭabarānī 20/211]
(Fatwā by: Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī رحمه الله)
