[Q 377] Shaking Hands With A Non-Mahram

Question

Asalamu alaykum esteemed muftis. If a woman shakes hands with a non-mahram, is her wudu still valid?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

A woman’s Wudu (ritual purity) is not invalidated by shaking hands with a non-Mahram man; however, it is Mustahab (recommended) to perform Wudu again.
Nevertheless, it must be kept in mind that for a woman to shake hands with a non-Mahram man, or for a man to shake hands with a non-Mahram woman, is Haram, impermissible, a sin, and clearly against the teachings of Islam.
Allah, the Most Wise and the One Who Guides, has commanded us to stay away from not only Zina (fornication/adultery), but also from actions that lead towards it.

Allah states:

“وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤی اِنَّه کَانَ فَاحِشَة وَسَآءَ سَبِیۡلًا”

Translation from Kanz-ul-Irfan: “And do not near fornication, indeed it is indecency, and a most evil path.”                  (Surah Al-Isra, Verse 32)
While commenting on this verse, Imam Abu al-Barakat Abdullah bin Ahmad al-Nasafi (رحمه الله تعالى) (d. 710 AH / 1310 CE) writes:

“نهى عن دواعي الزنا كالمس والقبلة ونحوهما”

Translation:
“This Ayah prohibits anything that leads to Zina, such as touching, kissing, and its like.”

(Tafsir an-Nasafiyy, Vol. 2, Pg. 255, Dar al-Kalim al-Tayyib, Beirut)

Regarding shaking hands or touching a non-Mahram, the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

“لأن ‌يطعن ‌في ‌رأس ‌أحدكم بمخيط من حديد خير له من أن يمس امرأة لا تحل له”

Translation: “It is better for any of you to have a needle of iron driven into his head than for him to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.”

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabir of Tabarani, Vol. 20, Pg. 211, Cairo)

Regarding shaking hands with a young woman, Allamah Zayla’iyy Hanafiyy (رحمه الله تعالى) (d. 743 AH / 1342 CE) writes:

قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: من مس كف امرأة ليس منها بسبيل وضع على كفه جمر يوم القيامة” و هذا إذا كانت شابة تشتهى، وأما إذا كانت عجوزا لا تشتهى فلا بأس بمصافحتها، ومس يدها لانعدام خوف الفتنة

Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم has said: “Whoever touches the hand of a woman, even though it was not permissible for him to do so, a burning coal will be placed on his hand on the Day of Judgement.
Imam Zayla’iyy رحمه الله comments upon this: “This warning is applicable when it is an attractive, young woman; however, if it is an unattractive, old woman (i.e. no fear of attraction towards her), then there is no harm in shaking and touching her hand, since there is no fear of Fitnah (temptation).”

(Tabyin-ul-Haqaa’iq, Vol. 7, Kitab al-Karahiyyah, Pg. 40, Dar-ul-Kutub-il-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

In Bahar-e-Shari’at, while mentioning the situations upon which performing Wudu is Mustahab (recommended), it is stated:
“Lying, uttering profanities, speaking obscenely, touching a Kafir’s body, touching a cross or an idol… scratching one’s armpits when it stinks… or coming in direct physical contact with a woman’s body, without any barrier in between, in all of these scenarios, it is Mustahabb (recommended) to do Wudu.”

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, Vol. 1, Pg. 302, Maktabat-ul-Madina, Karachi)

Answered By: Mufti Sajid Attari 
Translated Answer
Date: 16th October, 2024