What is your opinion regarding the doubt of those who say that spontaneous handshaking with women and innocent seclusion with a foreign woman is permissible, provided the heart is sound and that faith is in the heart, and that the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) “I do not shake hands with women” is specific to him?
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The questioner : Some contemporary writers have raised a doubt regarding shaking hands with a foreign woman, saying: There is no harm in spontaneous handshaking and innocent seclusion with a foreign woman, provided the heart is sound and that faith is in the heart. As for his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 2874Sahih (Darussalam), this is specific to him (peace and blessings be upon him). What is your comment on this doubt? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : Our comment on this doubt is that it is an error; this statement is an error because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5233, and this is general. He also said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1171Sahih (Darussalam), and this is general. They even said: Mishkat al-Masabih 3102, meaning the husband’s relative enters his relative’s house. He said: , meaning beware of him. Handshaking is more severe than seclusion because if handshaking is without a barrier, it involves direct contact of body with body, and it is not hidden what occurs in that regarding the arousal of desire, no matter how sound a person’s heart is.
And secondly: if there is a barrier, it is possible that Satan may mislead the person to squeeze the hand with force or intensity, or shake it, or do something similar that stirs up desire. So the matter is entirely an error.
As for the fact that the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not touch the hand of a woman, this is not specific to him. Rather, it is permissible for him (peace and blessings be upon him) to have seclusion with women in ways that are not permissible for others. It has been established in multiple hadiths that indicate the permissibility of the seclusion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with a woman and the permissibility of her uncovering herself to him.
During the Farewell Pilgrimage, a woman asked him about her Hajj on behalf of her father. She was a beautiful woman, so al-Fadl ibn Abbas, who was riding behind the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) on his camel, kept looking at her, so he turned his face away. This indicates that it is permissible for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to look at women in ways that are not permissible for others, because he is the most remote of people from suspicion. So this doubt is not a doubt in reality, except for one who has a disease in his heart. As al-Mutanabbi says:
“And whoever has a bitter, sick mouth *** finds the clear water bitter”.
Yes.
But I do not shake hands with women.
إني لا أصافح النساءThe Shaykh : Our comment on this doubt is that it is an error; this statement is an error because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
No man should stay with a lady in seclusion except in the presence of a Dhu- Muhram.
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا مع ذي محرمBeware of entering upon women.
إياكم والدخول على النساءMessenger of God, tell me about the relatives of a woman’s husband
يا رسول الله أرأيت الحموThe relative is death
الحمو الموتAnd secondly: if there is a barrier, it is possible that Satan may mislead the person to squeeze the hand with force or intensity, or shake it, or do something similar that stirs up desire. So the matter is entirely an error.
As for the fact that the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not touch the hand of a woman, this is not specific to him. Rather, it is permissible for him (peace and blessings be upon him) to have seclusion with women in ways that are not permissible for others. It has been established in multiple hadiths that indicate the permissibility of the seclusion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with a woman and the permissibility of her uncovering herself to him.
During the Farewell Pilgrimage, a woman asked him about her Hajj on behalf of her father. She was a beautiful woman, so al-Fadl ibn Abbas, who was riding behind the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) on his camel, kept looking at her, so he turned his face away. This indicates that it is permissible for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to look at women in ways that are not permissible for others, because he is the most remote of people from suspicion. So this doubt is not a doubt in reality, except for one who has a disease in his heart. As al-Mutanabbi says:
“And whoever has a bitter, sick mouth *** finds the clear water bitter”.
Yes.