The ruling on a fasting man shaking hands with a non-mahram woman
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Question: What is the ruling for a man who shakes hands with a non-mahram woman or talks to her during the day in Ramadan while he is fasting, and she is also fasting? Does this invalidate the fast or harm it? We ask for your guidance, and is there an expiation for it?
Answer: Shaking hands with a non-mahram woman is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2874Sahih (Darussalam), and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "By Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never touched the hand of a woman; he only pledged allegiance to them with words." She meant non-mahram women, not close relatives. As for a mahram, such as a sister or a daughter, there is no harm in shaking her hand.
As for talking to a non-mahram woman, there is no harm if it is a permissible conversation that contains no suspicion or doubt, such as asking about her children, or asking about her father, or asking about a need of the neighbors or relatives; there is no harm in that.
However, if the conversation is about matters related to corruption and fornication, or appointments for fornication, or about desire, or if she reveals herself to him so that he sees her beauty, then all of this is not permissible.
As for if the conversation is with modesty, with the hijab, and away from suspicion and not out of desire, then there is no blame on either of them for that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to talk to the women, and the women used to talk to him, and there is no harm in that. The fast is valid, and shaking hands does not harm it, nor does conversation harm it, provided that nothing comes out of him because of it. If something does come out, then the full ritual bath becomes obligatory, the fast becomes invalid, and he must make it up if it was obligatory.
It is obligatory for the believer to be cautious of what Allah has forbidden him, and not to shake hands with a woman who is not lawful for him, and not to talk to her about desire or look at her beauty. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Nur: 30]. Therefore, being cautious of the causes of evil is obligatory for the believer wherever he is.
We ask Allah for safety and well-being for us and for the Muslims from all evil.
Answer: Shaking hands with a non-mahram woman is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
But I do not shake hands with women.
إني لا أصافح النساءAs for talking to a non-mahram woman, there is no harm if it is a permissible conversation that contains no suspicion or doubt, such as asking about her children, or asking about her father, or asking about a need of the neighbors or relatives; there is no harm in that.
However, if the conversation is about matters related to corruption and fornication, or appointments for fornication, or about desire, or if she reveals herself to him so that he sees her beauty, then all of this is not permissible.
As for if the conversation is with modesty, with the hijab, and away from suspicion and not out of desire, then there is no blame on either of them for that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to talk to the women, and the women used to talk to him, and there is no harm in that. The fast is valid, and shaking hands does not harm it, nor does conversation harm it, provided that nothing comes out of him because of it. If something does come out, then the full ritual bath becomes obligatory, the fast becomes invalid, and he must make it up if it was obligatory.
It is obligatory for the believer to be cautious of what Allah has forbidden him, and not to shake hands with a woman who is not lawful for him, and not to talk to her about desire or look at her beauty. Allah the Exalted says:
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَWe ask Allah for safety and well-being for us and for the Muslims from all evil.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.