In some rural areas, women attend men's gatherings, greet them, and shake their hands, saying this is a custom. We seek your guidance. May Allah reward you.
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The questioner : In some rural areas, women attend men's gatherings, greet them, and shake their hands, saying this is a custom. We seek your guidance. May Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : These matters, such as women shaking hands and exposing their faces, and the like, are not ordinary or traditional matters, but rather religious matters. Therefore, we disapprove of those who say, "These are our customs and traditions." They make hijab and the separation of women from men a matter of customs and traditions. This is a lie and is not correct, and it is a matter of great danger because it leads to this religious ruling being changed one day, and it will be said that the custom has changed and the traditions have disappeared, and we want to introduce a new methodology and a new custom.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then they change the ruling of Allah because of what they described this religious ruling with, which is not a description of it, by making it a matter of customs and traditions. It is obligatory for those who speak about these matters to speak with the correct meaning and say that this is part of the religion that cannot be changed and cannot be changed by customs. Accordingly, what the rural people have become accustomed to in this matter, namely women greeting non-mahram men and exposing their faces before them, is an action that must be forbidden, and it must be made clear that this is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the woman in the rural area, the woman in the village, and the woman in the city are all the same. The ruling of Allah the Exalted regarding women is the same in the rural areas, in the cities, in the villages, in foreign lands, and in local lands; they are all the same. It is not permissible to change the ruling of Allah in this matter for the sake of customs and traditions. We strongly disapprove of those who describe these matters as a custom or a tradition; rather, we say they are religion and Shari'ah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : [Divine] from Allah Mighty and Majestic, and Allah the Exalted has clarified that in His Book with the utmost clarity, as in Surat al-Nur and Surat al-Ahzab, and as in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not permissible for a woman to shake hands with a non-mahram man, except if he is an acquaintance who enters her home frequently and comes to them often; then she shakes his hand, but only through a barrier. Direct contact is not allowed, because touching is more severe than looking.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If the desire is stirred and the temptation is near, the effect of touching is greater and more severe than the effect of looking. Therefore, the scholars have mentioned that a woman does not shake hands except with one who is a mahram to her or her husband.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : These matters, such as women shaking hands and exposing their faces, and the like, are not ordinary or traditional matters, but rather religious matters. Therefore, we disapprove of those who say, "These are our customs and traditions." They make hijab and the separation of women from men a matter of customs and traditions. This is a lie and is not correct, and it is a matter of great danger because it leads to this religious ruling being changed one day, and it will be said that the custom has changed and the traditions have disappeared, and we want to introduce a new methodology and a new custom.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then they change the ruling of Allah because of what they described this religious ruling with, which is not a description of it, by making it a matter of customs and traditions. It is obligatory for those who speak about these matters to speak with the correct meaning and say that this is part of the religion that cannot be changed and cannot be changed by customs. Accordingly, what the rural people have become accustomed to in this matter, namely women greeting non-mahram men and exposing their faces before them, is an action that must be forbidden, and it must be made clear that this is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the woman in the rural area, the woman in the village, and the woman in the city are all the same. The ruling of Allah the Exalted regarding women is the same in the rural areas, in the cities, in the villages, in foreign lands, and in local lands; they are all the same. It is not permissible to change the ruling of Allah in this matter for the sake of customs and traditions. We strongly disapprove of those who describe these matters as a custom or a tradition; rather, we say they are religion and Shari'ah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : [Divine] from Allah Mighty and Majestic, and Allah the Exalted has clarified that in His Book with the utmost clarity, as in Surat al-Nur and Surat al-Ahzab, and as in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not permissible for a woman to shake hands with a non-mahram man, except if he is an acquaintance who enters her home frequently and comes to them often; then she shakes his hand, but only through a barrier. Direct contact is not allowed, because touching is more severe than looking.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If the desire is stirred and the temptation is near, the effect of touching is greater and more severe than the effect of looking. Therefore, the scholars have mentioned that a woman does not shake hands except with one who is a mahram to her or her husband.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.