The Ruling on a Woman Meeting Her Relatives and Her Husband’s Relatives and Shaking Hands with Them

Returning to the beginning, O Shaykh! The matter of a woman and relatives who are not mahram is often asked about by the brothers, and they often bring up matters that may not be permissible for us to mention in this setting. One of the brothers who asked indicated his name by its initials (J. M.) from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah: Is it permissible for a woman to meet her husband’s brother, her husband’s maternal uncle, and the husbands of her sisters, while she is veiled, in a manner such as: she brings the tea and they see her and she sees them without speaking to them, and they greet her by shaking her hand? Is this permissible or not?
Answer: It is not permissible for a woman to meet her husband’s brother, nor her husband’s paternal uncle, nor her husband’s maternal uncle, nor the husbands of her sisters, nor the husbands of her maternal aunts, nor the husbands of her paternal aunts, nor her paternal cousins, nor her neighbors. It is not permissible for her to meet them with her face uncovered, or to shake hands with them. All of this is not permissible for her. Rather, she must veil herself and she must avoid shaking hands with men. As for her greeting them and sitting with them without fitnah or causes of fitnah, such as saying, “As-salamu alaykum, how are you, so-and-so? How are you, so-and-so?” there is no harm in this, provided there is no seclusion. She must not be secluded with any one of them. However, with the group, with her brothers in the presence of her brothers, in the presence of her sisters, in the presence of her mother, or in the presence of others, meaning with the group, there is no harm in her greeting them and asking about their conditions, about her sisters, and about other things. There is no harm in that.
As for uncovering and not veiling, or shaking hands, this is not permissible. It is obligatory to veil oneself, and to be covered in the body, covered in the head, covered in the face, and covered in the hands and feet. She speaks to them with words only, without shaking hands. This is what is prescribed, and this is what is permissible. The women used to ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and address him while they were veiled. Likewise, they used to ask Abu Bakr, Umar, and others while they were veiled. They would attend the prayer with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while they were veiled. All of this is permissible. As for her shaking hands, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said regarding the pledge of allegiance: . And Allah says: [Al-Ahzab: 53]. So she is veiled, she attends, she sits, she speaks, she greets, and then she goes to attend to her needs. There is no harm in that. Yes. As for the one who circulates with the coffee, the mahram circulates with it, the man circulates with it. The man or the mahram, such as their sister, their aunt, or the like, circulates with the coffee. Yes.
The presenter: Especially since women’s clothing has taken on other forms today, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh: Likewise, tight and short clothing is another evil. Even with the mahram, it should be loose and sufficient. Because the mahram may be tempted; they may be tempted by the woman if she is lax, even if it is her sister, her aunt, or her sister’s daughter. The woman should be careful to cover herself and maintain modesty, even with the mahram. However, she is not required to cover her face, nor her two hands, nor her two feet in the presence of the mahram. But she should avoid short and tight clothing so that some of her mahram are not tempted by it. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.