Shaking hands with males and females
Question
Is it Haraam for a man to shake a woman’s hand and vice versa except if it is her immediate family member?
Answer
Yes. It is prohbited. Sayyidatuna Aa’ishah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had never shaken hands with a non-Mahram female ever. (Bulooghul Maraam).
When it comes to opposite genders, a female is only permitted to shake the hands of her Mahram male relatives and her husband. Similarly, a male is only permitted to shake the hands of his Mahram female relatives and his wife.
And Allah knows best
- Answered by
- Suhail Tarmahomed (Mufti)
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Jamiatul Ulama KZN — https://jamiat.org.za/shaking-hands-with-males-and-females/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/jamiat-325
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