The Ruling on Shaking Hands with an Elderly Woman

Question: I have a female cousin who is seventy years old. Is it permissible for me to kiss the top of her head over her hijab, or to shake her hand because of her advanced age, or is it not?

Answer: It is not permissible for you to shake her hand, nor to kiss her head or anything else. Rather, it is prescribed for you to greet her with words only, even if she is of advanced age, because she is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) to you. There is no harm in saying, "How are you? How are your children?" and the like. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This includes elderly women and others. 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—meaning other than his mahrams—he only pledged allegiance to them with words."