Is it permissible to return the greeting to a woman, and does one initiate the greeting to a woman?
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The questioner : What should a person do regarding returning the greeting to a woman? Does one initiate the greeting to a woman? Is there a distinction between a young woman or an older woman from whom no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) arises? And what is the ruling on shaking hands and kissing the head of them, meaning the elderly women?
The Shaykh : A man does not greet a woman, and a woman does not greet a man, because this is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), except in the case of a telephone call, where the woman or the man greets only to the extent of necessity, or if the woman is among his acquaintances, such as if he enters his home and finds a woman there whom he knows and who knows him, then he greets her; there is nothing wrong with that. However, greeting a woman he meets in the market is among the greatest causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), so he should not greet her. As for kissing mahram (a relative one may not marry) women, kissing them on the head and forehead is permissible. Kissing them on the cheek is permissible from someone like a father, because Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon his daughter Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) while she was ill and kissed her cheek, so there is nothing wrong with that. However, if it is from someone other than the daughter, then the kiss should be on the forehead and the head. As for shaking hands with a woman who is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry), it is forbidden (haram), because shaking her hand is more effective in causing fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) than seeing her. Yes.
The questioner : Kissing the heads of elderly women?
The Shaykh : Kissing the heads of elderly women who are mahram (a relative one may not marry) is permissible. From those who are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), do not kiss them. But the question is: is it permissible to kiss the head of one's father's wife? The one who knows can raise his hand. Is it permissible to kiss the head of one's father's wife? Say?
The questioner : Yes, because she has become forbidden (haram) to him through marriage ties.
The Shaykh : She is among the mahram (a relative one may not marry), yes, it is permissible because she is among his mahram (a relative one may not marry). Now, is it permissible to shake hands with his wife's daughter? Yes.
The questioner : Yes, it is permissible because he is responsible for her.
The Shaykh : Incorrect, yes, say, there is a detail in this.
The questioner : If he enters upon her mother, he greets her.
The Shaykh : If he has consummated the marriage with her mother, he shakes her hand; otherwise, he does not. How can she have a daughter if he has not consummated the marriage with her?
The questioner : The daughter of the mother is different.
The Shaykh : From someone else, and he has contracted the marriage with her but has not consummated it, meaning he has not had intercourse with her, and in that case, this daughter is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for him. Complete, yes.
The Shaykh : A man does not greet a woman, and a woman does not greet a man, because this is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), except in the case of a telephone call, where the woman or the man greets only to the extent of necessity, or if the woman is among his acquaintances, such as if he enters his home and finds a woman there whom he knows and who knows him, then he greets her; there is nothing wrong with that. However, greeting a woman he meets in the market is among the greatest causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), so he should not greet her. As for kissing mahram (a relative one may not marry) women, kissing them on the head and forehead is permissible. Kissing them on the cheek is permissible from someone like a father, because Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon his daughter Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) while she was ill and kissed her cheek, so there is nothing wrong with that. However, if it is from someone other than the daughter, then the kiss should be on the forehead and the head. As for shaking hands with a woman who is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry), it is forbidden (haram), because shaking her hand is more effective in causing fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) than seeing her. Yes.
The questioner : Kissing the heads of elderly women?
The Shaykh : Kissing the heads of elderly women who are mahram (a relative one may not marry) is permissible. From those who are not mahram (a relative one may not marry), do not kiss them. But the question is: is it permissible to kiss the head of one's father's wife? The one who knows can raise his hand. Is it permissible to kiss the head of one's father's wife? Say?
The questioner : Yes, because she has become forbidden (haram) to him through marriage ties.
The Shaykh : She is among the mahram (a relative one may not marry), yes, it is permissible because she is among his mahram (a relative one may not marry). Now, is it permissible to shake hands with his wife's daughter? Yes.
The questioner : Yes, it is permissible because he is responsible for her.
The Shaykh : Incorrect, yes, say, there is a detail in this.
The questioner : If he enters upon her mother, he greets her.
The Shaykh : If he has consummated the marriage with her mother, he shakes her hand; otherwise, he does not. How can she have a daughter if he has not consummated the marriage with her?
The questioner : The daughter of the mother is different.
The Shaykh : From someone else, and he has contracted the marriage with her but has not consummated it, meaning he has not had intercourse with her, and in that case, this daughter is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) for him. Complete, yes.