Ruling on Women Greeting Men Without Handshaking
Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to greet men without shaking hands?
Answer:
The scholars have given a detailed discussion on this matter, and (Allāh knows best) the stronger opinion is that it is not permissible for a young woman to greet men. However, if the woman is elderly and it is predominantly assumed that her greeting will not cause fitnah, then there is no harm in her greeting men — just as there is no harm in a man greeting an elderly woman.
We do not know of any Sunnah or practice of the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn in which they would greet women, regardless of age, when passing by them. Avoiding the greeting of men by young women prevents possible fitnah, and numerous Sharʿī texts indicate this principle.
Among the clearest is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«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 (at what is ḥarām), the adultery of the ears is listening (to what is ḥarām), the adultery of the hands is touching (what is ḥarām), and the adultery of the feet is walking (to what is ḥarām), and the private parts confirm or deny that.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 5889; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 2657]
In a narration in Sunan Abī Dāwūd with an authentic chain, after «والرجل تزني», the Prophet ﷺ said:
«والفم يزني، وزناها القبل»
“And the mouth commits adultery, and its adultery is kissing (unlawfully).”
This ḥadīth mentions two types of prohibitions:
① Those prohibited as a means to prevent another greater prohibition — this is the ruling for blocking the means to fitnah.
② Those prohibited in and of themselves — such as zinā (fornication/adultery).
(Fatwā by: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to greet men without shaking hands?
Answer:
The scholars have given a detailed discussion on this matter, and (Allāh knows best) the stronger opinion is that it is not permissible for a young woman to greet men. However, if the woman is elderly and it is predominantly assumed that her greeting will not cause fitnah, then there is no harm in her greeting men — just as there is no harm in a man greeting an elderly woman.
We do not know of any Sunnah or practice of the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥīn in which they would greet women, regardless of age, when passing by them. Avoiding the greeting of men by young women prevents possible fitnah, and numerous Sharʿī texts indicate this principle.
Among the clearest is the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«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 (at what is ḥarām), the adultery of the ears is listening (to what is ḥarām), the adultery of the hands is touching (what is ḥarām), and the adultery of the feet is walking (to what is ḥarām), and the private parts confirm or deny that.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 5889; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 2657]
In a narration in Sunan Abī Dāwūd with an authentic chain, after «والرجل تزني», the Prophet ﷺ said:
«والفم يزني، وزناها القبل»
“And the mouth commits adultery, and its adultery is kissing (unlawfully).”
This ḥadīth mentions two types of prohibitions:
① Those prohibited as a means to prevent another greater prohibition — this is the ruling for blocking the means to fitnah.
② Those prohibited in and of themselves — such as zinā (fornication/adultery).
(Fatwā by: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
