Shaking hands with a man’s female relatives
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The fourth question from Fatwa number ( 4126 )
Q4: When a man returns from travel and has been away from his family, it happens that female relatives greet him or shake his hand. This is a custom that is difficult to overcome, because they do not know the Islamic ruling on it. These relatives may be the wives of his maternal uncles, the wives of his paternal uncles, and the like. He feels hesitant about not shaking their hands, as they are accustomed to it. He notes that he is still young (20 years old), and it happens that his uncle’s or maternal uncle’s wife kisses him, claiming that she is like his mother. What is the Islamic ruling on this, and what is the solution? The matter is
the same, as he feels hesitant about visiting his relatives and maintaining family ties to prevent such things from happening.
A4: Maintaining family ties is something encouraged by the Qur’an and the Sunnah, but within the limits prescribed by Allah. Severing family ties is one of the major sins. However, avoiding what the Shari’ah has forbidden during meetings and visits is not considered severing ties; rather, it is cooperation in abandoning sin and transgression. This includes a man avoiding shaking hands with or kissing a woman who is not his mahram (a relative he may not marry). His uncle’s wife, maternal uncle’s wife, or brother’s wife is not his mahram, nor is she in the position of his mother regarding the rulings of mahrams. Therefore, it is forbidden for her to kiss him or for him to kiss her, and it is forbidden to shake her hand. It is obligatory for the Muslim to prefer the Shari’ah of Allah and prioritize it over customs, placing its authority above theirs, in order to establish the truth and to magnify the Shari’ah of Allah the Exalted. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. In this lies guidance and advice for them, and forbidding what is wrong. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q4: When a man returns from travel and has been away from his family, it happens that female relatives greet him or shake his hand. This is a custom that is difficult to overcome, because they do not know the Islamic ruling on it. These relatives may be the wives of his maternal uncles, the wives of his paternal uncles, and the like. He feels hesitant about not shaking their hands, as they are accustomed to it. He notes that he is still young (20 years old), and it happens that his uncle’s or maternal uncle’s wife kisses him, claiming that she is like his mother. What is the Islamic ruling on this, and what is the solution? The matter is
the same, as he feels hesitant about visiting his relatives and maintaining family ties to prevent such things from happening.
A4: Maintaining family ties is something encouraged by the Qur’an and the Sunnah, but within the limits prescribed by Allah. Severing family ties is one of the major sins. However, avoiding what the Shari’ah has forbidden during meetings and visits is not considered severing ties; rather, it is cooperation in abandoning sin and transgression. This includes a man avoiding shaking hands with or kissing a woman who is not his mahram (a relative he may not marry). His uncle’s wife, maternal uncle’s wife, or brother’s wife is not his mahram, nor is she in the position of his mother regarding the rulings of mahrams. Therefore, it is forbidden for her to kiss him or for him to kiss her, and it is forbidden to shake her hand. It is obligatory for the Muslim to prefer the Shari’ah of Allah and prioritize it over customs, placing its authority above theirs, in order to establish the truth and to magnify the Shari’ah of Allah the Exalted. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. In this lies guidance and advice for them, and forbidding what is wrong. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.