❖ Source: Extract from the book “Aḥkām wa Masā’il Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshnī Main” by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
What is the ruling on women shaking hands with non-mahram men?
It is impermissible for women to shake hands with non-mahram men. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ clearly stated while taking the pledge (bay‘ah) from women:
إني لا أصافح النساء
[al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Bay‘ah, Bāb Bay‘at al-Nisā’: 4186; Aḥmad: 6/357, Ḥadīth: 27516]
Translation:
“I do not shake hands with women.”
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
“By Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman. He used to accept their pledge only verbally.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Imārah, Bāb Kayfiyyah Bay‘at al-Nisā’: 1866]
Allah ﷻ has made the life of the Prophet ﷺ a perfect model for us to follow. Therefore:
✔ We must fully obey and emulate the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
✔ Shaking hands with non-mahram women must be completely avoided to prevent fitnah (temptation) and suspicious environments.
There is no harm if a woman shakes hands with her maḥram relatives, such as:
① Her father
② Her son
③ Her brother
and other maḥram men.
(And Allah knows best.)
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on women shaking hands with non-mahram men?
❖ Answer:
It is impermissible for women to shake hands with non-mahram men. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ clearly stated while taking the pledge (bay‘ah) from women:
Arabic:
إني لا أصافح النساء
[al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Bay‘ah, Bāb Bay‘at al-Nisā’: 4186; Aḥmad: 6/357, Ḥadīth: 27516]Translation:
“I do not shake hands with women.”
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
“By Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman. He used to accept their pledge only verbally.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Imārah, Bāb Kayfiyyah Bay‘at al-Nisā’: 1866]❖ Key Guidance:
Allah ﷻ has made the life of the Prophet ﷺ a perfect model for us to follow. Therefore:
✔ We must fully obey and emulate the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
✔ Shaking hands with non-mahram women must be completely avoided to prevent fitnah (temptation) and suspicious environments.
❖ Exception:
There is no harm if a woman shakes hands with her maḥram relatives, such as:
① Her father
② Her son
③ Her brother
and other maḥram men.
(And Allah knows best.)
