What is the ruling on shaking hands with a maternal aunt? Is there any harm in that?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on shaking hands with a maternal aunt? Is there any harm in that?
The Shaykh : Shaking hands with a maternal aunt and other mahram relatives, such as a paternal aunt, a brother’s daughter, a sister’s daughter, and even more so a daughter or a mother, is permissible and there is no harm in it, provided that fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is avoided, and this is generally the case.
Likewise, it is permissible to shake hands with their equivalents through breastfeeding, provided that fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is avoided, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1937Sahih (Darussalam).
As for shaking hands with women who are not mahram to a man, it is not permissible for him to shake their hands, whether directly or through a barrier, such as a paternal uncle’s daughter, a maternal uncle’s daughter, a paternal aunt’s daughter, a maternal aunt’s daughter, a wife’s sister, and the like. All of this is not permissible for a man to do. The custom of some people of shaking hands with such women is haram (forbidden), and it is obligatory to apply the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) rather than custom in matters where the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) has provided a ruling.
The questioner : The listener is asking about the book "The Terrors of the Day of Resurrection"?
The Shaykh : I do not know this book and I have not read it.
The Shaykh : Shaking hands with a maternal aunt and other mahram relatives, such as a paternal aunt, a brother’s daughter, a sister’s daughter, and even more so a daughter or a mother, is permissible and there is no harm in it, provided that fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is avoided, and this is generally the case.
Likewise, it is permissible to shake hands with their equivalents through breastfeeding, provided that fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is avoided, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Breast-feeding makes unlawful (for marriages) the same things that blood tie make unlawful.
يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسبAs for shaking hands with women who are not mahram to a man, it is not permissible for him to shake their hands, whether directly or through a barrier, such as a paternal uncle’s daughter, a maternal uncle’s daughter, a paternal aunt’s daughter, a maternal aunt’s daughter, a wife’s sister, and the like. All of this is not permissible for a man to do. The custom of some people of shaking hands with such women is haram (forbidden), and it is obligatory to apply the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) rather than custom in matters where the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) has provided a ruling.
The questioner : The listener is asking about the book "The Terrors of the Day of Resurrection"?
The Shaykh : I do not know this book and I have not read it.