Muslim teacher suspended over handshake

Women are not allowed to shake hands with men?
Out of interest, how do men and women greet each other or acknowledge each others presence?

Thanks.

we say 'Asalamu alaikum' (peace be unto you) without touching.

unless... ofcourse they happen to be mahram (e.g. brother/sis daughter/father niece/uncle etc...)

mahram = relatives whom for example a woman dont hav to wear hijab infront of.

Thanks, whatever.

Are you allowed to look at each other (i.e. have eye contact)?

men are also not allowed to shake hands with the opposite non-mahram (nonrelative people)

they greet each other without any physicial contact

she is only allowed handshake if its really a must

chk this


Q

As-Salamu `alaykum. I refuse to shake hands with men who are non-maharem, but the problem is that most of the time people are not aware of this fact and believe that shaking hands is normal. So, when a man wants to shake hands with me, I refuse and my family say that my refusal makes these men ill at ease, and, therefore, I should not refuse because it is not polite. I disagree with them because what matters is to obey Allah and not human beings. So, what should I do? Most of the time I avoid being in the same place with non-mahrem men not to face this problem. Should I shake hands and then explain my reasons or should I not shake hands and then explain?

A

Dear questioner, we are greatly pleased to receive your question which shows the confidence you place in us. May Allah reward you abundantly for your interest in knowing the teachings of Islam!

Originally, the best option when it comes to shaking hands among members of the opposite sex is that one avoids doing so; especially when there are any moral qualms about it.

In case, there is no fear of temptation, and at the same time shaking hands is a customary practice in a certain society or community, then one may get over with it. The issue is, by and large, judged by one’s conscience.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states the following:

This is one of those issues one should decide based on one’s conscience and the circumstances. It is best for us to avoid shaking hands with members of the opposite sex in case there are any moral qualms about it. It is best that we do what our conscience tells us; we can always explain our position later.

If, however, you are okay with it, and there is nothing to suggest a source of temptation, then you may just get over with it, especially in a society or group where it is a custom. The latter would be the case if we are dealing with societies where shaking hands with everyone, regardless of male and female differences, is customary.

It is in the last mentioned case that even some of the jurists of the early times considered shaking hands with females as permissible, provided there is no temptation factor involved. Imam Ibrahim An-Nakh`ie was of this view, as is reported from him.

So decide for yourself; if it bothers you, then don’t do it. But if you are faced with a society where it is considered strange and unfriendly not to do so, then just do it and get over with it.

Having said this, however, I must rush to add that in Islamic societies nurtured by the sound teachings of Islam, it should not pose a problem for you if you were to refuse to shake hands with men. For in this case, the latter rather than the former, is the norm.

^WHAT?? since when did custom come before halal and haram??

good on the women for refusing too, mashaallah

she is only allowed handshake if its really a must

yeh.. only if she's srsly threatened with death if she doesnt shake... that's the only exception i know of.

Are you allowed to look at each other (i.e. have eye contact)?

Allah tells the believers to lower our gazes when it comes to looking at opposite gender because it is better for them.

hope that helps
salamz

I read once that whenh the prophet (saw) took bay'ah from women he covered his hand with a cloth...but i'm not sure ...
I also heard he only shook men's hands...

I can't see anything other than a sexist motivation for the difference between men and women, but if that's they way it is in Islam and the teacher is happy with that, so be it.

how is it sexist

sexism is when one gender looks down on another by means of action or something.. Islam forbids touching non-Mahram relatives and encourages lowering the gaze to avert ne temptation which could lead on to other things...

its not like preventing shaking hands puts men at any higher position than women, it's a ruling that has equal implication on both genders.... same goes for lowering gaze, it's respect, not sexism!

format_quote Originally Posted by Marya

I read once that whenh the prophet (saw) took bay'ah from women he covered his hand with a cloth...but i'm not sure ...
I also heard he only shook men's hands...

If anybody felt compelled to cover his hand with a cloth before shaking mine, I'd be so offended!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, when I hear stuff like that ...

format_quote Originally Posted by Trumble

I can't see anything other than a sexist motivation for the difference between men and women, but if that's they way it is in Islam and the teacher is happy with that, so be it.

sexist??? how is it sexist since the rule applies to both men and women.

^ i think i heard taht too.. refer to http://www.islamicboard.com/482026-post17.html

glo u get offended coz ur looking at it from perspectiv that the one who does that hass omething against u.. checkout the thread about freemixing on this forum it should explaini n more detail..

lol as sum1 here put it:

One of the brothers used to tell ladies when they stretch their hands: "I can't shake hands with you unless you're very ugly or very old and I don't believe you fit in any of these categories".

salams

format_quote Originally Posted by lolwatever

^ i think i heard taht too.. but that was the only case coz it was a formal bay'3ah... other than that case, shaking hands isn't on, with/without cover.

glo u get offended coz ur looking at it from perspectiv that the one who does that hass omething against u.. checkout the thread about freemixing on this forum it should explaini n more detail..

lol as sum1 here put it:




salams

LOL, that's a funny quote.

Whatever, don't get me wrong. I understand that those are the Islamic rules, and that's fine with me.

But for me. personally, the whole issue of gender separation is utterly incomprehensible! I don't wish to hijack sonz' thread, and there isn't much point debating it anyway ... I will never agree with the idea that the mixing of genders is somehow dirty, sexist and inappropriate!

Jesus mixed with men and women alike, and it is his example I follow! He even had contact with women which were deemed 'unclean' (i.e. a menstruating woman and non-Jewish women).

peace.

salama

the prophet (saw) didnt shake hands with women using cloth. he only toke their words for allegiance. the hadith of shaking hands using cloth is weak and not permissible

chk this

Question : -
I would like a detailed answer on the ruling on a man shaking hands with a woman, and the views
of the four imams and the majority of scholars on that.


Bismillah Rahman Raheem (In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Beneficient)

Salam alaykum: (Peace be unto all who seek truth and guidance)

Answer :
- Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:
It is not permissible for a man who believes in Allaah and His Messenger to put his hand in the hand of a women who is not permissible for him or who is not one of his mahrams. Whoever does that has wronged himself (i.e., sinned).



It was narrated that Ma'qil ibn Yassaar said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than that he should touch a woman who is not permissible for him."
Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486. Shaykh al-Albaani said in Saheeh al-Jaami', 5045, that this hadeeth is saheeh.



This hadeeth alone is sufficient to deter and to instill the obedience required of us by Allaah, because it implies that touching women may lead to temptation and immorality. It was narrated that 'Aa'ishah the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When the believing women migrated to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), they would be tested in accordance with the words of Allaah (interpretation of
the meaning):

'O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the Bay'ah (pledge), that they will not associate anything in worship with Allaah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual intercourse'
[al-Mumtahanah 60:12]

'Aa'ishah said: Whoever among the believing women agreed to that had passed the test, and when the women agreed to that, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to them: "Go, for you have given your oath of allegiance.' No, by Allaah, the hand of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched the hand of any woman, rather they would give their oath of allegiance with words only." And 'Aa'ishah said: "By
Allaah, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) only took the oath of allegiance from the women in the manner prescribed by Allaah, and the hand of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched the hand of any woman. When
he had taken their oath of allegiance he would say, 'I have accepted your oath of allegiance verbally.'"
(narrated by Muslim, 1866)

It was narrated from 'Urwah that 'Aa'ishah told him about the women's oath of allegiance: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never touched any woman with his hand. He would explain to the woman what the oath of allegiance implied, and when she accepted, he would say 'Go, for you have given your oath of allegiance.'"
Narrated by Muslim, 1866

This infallible one, the best of mankind, the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, did not touch women. This is despite the fact that the oath of allegiance was originally given by hand. So how about men other than the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?
It was narrated that Umaymah the daughter of Raqeeqah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "I do not shake hands with women."
Narrated by al-Nasaa'i (4181) and Ibn Maajah, 2874; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-
Jaami', 2513.


Secondly:
It is not permissible to shake hands even with a barrier in between, such as shaking hands from beneath a garment and the like. The hadeeth that was narrated allowing that is da'eef (weak).

It was narrated from Ma'qal ibn Yassaar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to shake hands with women from beneath a garment." Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, 2855.

Al-Haythami said:
This was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer and al-Awsat. Its isnaad includes 'Ataab ibn Harb, who is da'eef (weak).
Majma' al-Zawaa'id, 6/39.

Wali al-Deen al-'Iraaqi said:
The words of 'Aa'ishah, "He used to accept the women's oath of allegiance by words only" mean that he did so without taking their hands or shaking hands with them. This indicates that the bay'ah of men was accepted by taking their hands and shaking hands with them, as well as by words, and
this is how it was. What 'Aa'ishah mentioned was the custom.

Some of the mufassireen mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) called for a vessel of water and dipped his hand in it, then the women dipped their hands in it. And some of them said that he did not shake hands with them from behind a barrier and had a Qatari
cloak over his hand. And it was said that 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) shook hands with them on his behalf. None of these reports are sound, especially the last one, How could 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) have done something that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who was ma'soom (infallible), would not do?
Tarh al-Tathreeb, 7/45

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:



The most correct view is that this (i.e., shaking hands with women from behind a barrier) is not allowed at all, because of the general meaning of the hadeeth, according to which the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "I do not shake hands with women;" and so as to ward off the means that may lead to evil.
(Adapted from Hashiyat Majmoo'at Rasaa'il fi'l-Hijaab wa'l-Sufoor, p. 69)
The same ruling applies to shaking hands with old women; this is also haraam because of the general meaning of the texts on this issue. The reports that say it is permissible are da'eef (weak).

Al-Zayla'i said:
"As for the report that 'Abu Bakr used to shake hands with old women, it is also ghareeb."
(Nasab al-Raayah, 4/240)


Ibn Hajar said:
I cannot find this hadeeth.
(al-Diraayah fi Takhreej Ahaadeeth al-Hidaayah, 2/225)

Fourthly:
With regard to the views of the four imams, they are as follows:

1 - The Hanafi madhhab:
Ibn Nujaym said:
It is not permissible for a man to touch a woman's face or hands even if there is no risk of desire because it is haraam in principle and there is no necessity that would allow it.
Al-Bahr al-Raa'iq, 8/219

2 - The Maaliki madhhab:
Muhammad ibn Ahmad ('Ulaysh) said:
It is not permissible for a man to touch the face or hand of a non-mahram woman, and it is not permissible for him to put his hand on hers without a barrier. 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never accepted a woman's oath of allegiance by shaking hands with her; rather he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to accept their oath of allegiance by words only." According to another report, "His hand
never touched the hand of a woman, rather he would accept their oath of allegiance by words only."
(Manh al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel, 1/223)

3 - The Shaafa'i madhhab:
Al-Nawawi said:
It is not permissible to touch a woman in any way.
Al-Majmoo', 4/515.

Wali al-Deen al-'Iraaqi said:
This indicates that the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not touch the hand of any woman apart from his wives and concubines, whether in the case of accepting the oath of allegiance or in other cases. If he did not do that despite the fact that he was
infallible and beyond suspicion, then it is even more essential that others heed this prohibition. It appears from the texts that he refrained from doing that because it was haraam for him to do so.
The fuqaha' among our companions and others said that it is haraam to touch a non-mahram woman even if that is not touching parts of her body that are not 'awrah, such as her face. But they differed with regard to looking when there is no desire and no fear of fitnah. The prohibition
on touching is stronger than the prohibition on looking, and it is haraam when there is no necessity that would allow it. If it is the case of necessity, e.g. medical treatment, removing a tooth or treating the eyes, etc., if there is no woman who can do that, then it is permissible for a nonmahram to do that because it is the case of necessity.
Tarh al-Tathreeb, 7/45, 46

4 - The Hanbali madhhab
Ibn Muflih said:
Abu 'Abd-Allaah - i.e., Imam Ahmad - was asked about a man who shakes hands with a woman. He said, No, and was emphatic that it is haraam. I said, Should he shake hands with her from
beneath his garment? He said, No.


Shaykh Taqiy al-Deen also favoured the view that it is prohibited, and gave the reason that touching is more serious than looking.
AlAdaab al-Shar'iyyah, 2/257
And Allaah knows best.



IslamQa

^ mixing of genders is totally fine as long as its between mahram's (family n stuff)

But with strangers, i think we can agree that not getting physical is a v good way to prevent ways to illegal relationships/adultery and all that stuff.

Islam cuts off any path to haram things, that's the point.

I will never agree with the idea that the mixing of genders is somehow dirty, sexist and inappropriate!

nobody does till they find their spouse in bed with another person- this rule is to protect us from feeling attracted to the other gender (and thus leading to adultry and fornication)

and its known that the hands r one of the most sensible places in our body for touch... (read about the Sensory system) ....

islamic rules r not made out the blue for no reason!!!