Chapter on a man greeting his wife, a woman from among his mahram relatives, and a non-mahram woman or women with whom he does not fear fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and on their greeting under this condition.

The Shaykh : As for greeting women, greeting mahram women and wives is a sunnah (recommended practice). Mahram means those whom it is not permissible for you to marry, meaning those who are uncovered to you. You may greet them, and there is no harm in that. You may greet your wife, your sister, your paternal aunt, your brother's daughter, or your sister's daughter, and there is no harm in this. As for non-mahram women, you do not greet them, except for very old women, if you are safe for yourself from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). But if you fear fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), you do not greet them. For this reason, it has become the custom of people today that a man does not greet a woman when he meets her in the market, and this is the correct approach. However, if she comes to your house and you find women among your acquaintances there and you greet them, there is no harm and no blame, provided there is also safety from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Likewise, a woman may greet a man provided there is safety from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The author (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned the hadith of the woman who used to take from the roots of chard. Chard is a type of plant, and its roots are good and suitable as a side dish. She would take from these roots and put them in water and boil them over the fire, and crush some barley grains over them. When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) came out, whoever wished would come to her, greet her, and eat from this chard, and they would be pleased with it. This is because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were not wealthy until Allah opened up conquests for them, as Allah the Exalted said: And Allah the Exalted said: So wealth increased after the conquests. But before that, the majority of the Companions were poor, and everything they had was significant. And success is from Allah.

The questioner : Shaking hands with mahram relatives?