The Ruling on Shaking Hands with a Non-Mahram Woman

Question:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. He asks for the opinion of Shaykh Salih regarding shaking hands with a non-mahram woman, and requests the evidence. May Allah bless you?

Answer:
Shaking hands with a non-mahram woman is not permissible. The evidence is that this is a source of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation); it causes fitnah, the fitnah of a man with a woman and the fitnah of a woman with a man. And whatever causes fitnah is forbidden and prohibited, because this religion came with sadd al-dhara'i' (blocking the means to harm); it came with blocking the means that lead to what is forbidden. And from the perspective of the text, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not take the pledge of allegiance from women by shaking hands as he did with men; rather, he took their pledge by words, peace and blessings be upon him. And Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: His hand never touched the hand of a woman who was not lawful for him. So he is the role model, peace and blessings be upon him. Yes.