It is well known in the Shari'ah that a paternal cousin’s daughter must observe hijab in the presence of her paternal cousin, but does this mean cutting off contact with them in terms of speech, greeting, and hiding from them, or does it mean that she
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The questioner : It is well known in the Shari'ah that a paternal cousin’s daughter must observe hijab in the presence of her paternal cousin, but does this mean cutting off contact with him in terms of speech, greeting, and hiding from him, or does it mean that she meets him and greets him while observing hijab?
The Shaykh : A paternal cousin’s daughter is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) of her paternal cousin; therefore, it is permissible for him to marry her, as she is a stranger to him and he is a stranger to her. However, it is well known that families visit one another in their homes. So, if a paternal cousin visits his uncle’s house and there are women present, there is no harm in his greeting them, provided that:
there is no seclusion with a non-mahram and no uncovering of the hijab, and provided that the woman does not speak with softness or coquetry, for Allah the Exalted said to the wives of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who are the purest of women:[Al-Ahzab 33:32].
Speaking with softness or coquetry includes joking or bantering between them, or anything similar to that. It has been reported to me that there is a custom among some families that the Shari'ah does not approve of, which is that when a man enters his uncle’s house and his paternal cousins are there, he greets them and shakes their hands. This is not permissible; it is forbidden, because handshaking is undoubtedly a trial, and there are hadiths warning against it.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : A paternal cousin’s daughter is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) of her paternal cousin; therefore, it is permissible for him to marry her, as she is a stranger to him and he is a stranger to her. However, it is well known that families visit one another in their homes. So, if a paternal cousin visits his uncle’s house and there are women present, there is no harm in his greeting them, provided that:
there is no seclusion with a non-mahram and no uncovering of the hijab, and provided that the woman does not speak with softness or coquetry, for Allah the Exalted said to the wives of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who are the purest of women:
then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.
فَلا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًاSpeaking with softness or coquetry includes joking or bantering between them, or anything similar to that. It has been reported to me that there is a custom among some families that the Shari'ah does not approve of, which is that when a man enters his uncle’s house and his paternal cousins are there, he greets them and shakes their hands. This is not permissible; it is forbidden, because handshaking is undoubtedly a trial, and there are hadiths warning against it.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.