QUESTION:
What do the scholars and muftis of the noble Shari’ah say regarding the following matter; whenever a person goes for a job interview in England, he has to shake hands with a female. Is this permissible?
Questioner: Wasim from Birmingham, UK
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
It is not permissible to shake hands with non-mahram women. It is haram (prohibited) to touch any part of a non-mahram woman’s body without any need, even if there is no fear of lustful desire. A handshake is not necessary in an interview. An interview can be done even without a handshake. Thus, a handshake is not permissible in this case.
It is mentioned in one of the most authentic works of the Hanafi school, al-Hidayah:
“(وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَمَسَّ وَجْهَهَا وَلَا كَفَّيْهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ يَأْمَنُ الشَّهْوَةَ) لِقِيَامِ الْمُحَرَّمِ وَانْعِدَامِ الضَّرُورَةِ وَالْبَلْوَى
Translation: “It is not permissible for a man to touch the face and hands of a non-mahram woman, even if there is no fear of lustful desire. This is because it contains a prohibited act and is not done out of any necessity.” [al-Hidayah, vol. 2, pg. 368]
It is mentioned further in the same book:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:
مَنْ مَسَّ كَفَّ امْرَأَةٍ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا بِسَبِيلٍ وُضِعَ عَلَى كَفِّهِ جَمْرَةٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Translation: “Whomsoever touches a woman’s palm without any need, a cinder will be placed on his hand on the Day of Resurrection.” [al-Hidayah, vol. 2, pg. 368]
Due to this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not shake hands with women even while taking a pledge of allegiance. He ﷺ would take the pledge verbally.
Sayyidah ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the Prophet ﷺ said: “When the believing women emigrated to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, they would be tested in accordance with Allah’s saying: ‘O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the pledge…’” [60:12]
Sayyidah ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Whoever among the believing women affirmed this, passed the test. When they affirmed that, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say to them: ‘Go, for you have given your pledge.’ No, by Allah! The hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of any woman, rather he accepted their pledge in words only.” ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “By Allah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not demand of women (in their pledge) anything other than that which Allah had commanded, and the hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of a woman. He would say to them, when he had accepted their pledge: ‘You have given your pledge,’ verbally.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, hadith no. 2875]
Sayyidah Umaimah bint Ruqaiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I came to the Prophet ﷺ with some women, to offer our pledge of allegiance to him. He ﷺ said to us: ‘(I accept your pledge) regarding what you are able to do. But I do not shake hands with women.’” [Sunan Ibn Majah, hadith no. 2874]
Torment has been promised for shaking hands with (non-mahram) women. The jurist, Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi (may Allah have mercy upon him) records, “A person who shook hands with non-mahram women will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in a state in which his hands will be tied to his neck, with chains of fire.” [Rawd al-Fa’iq ma’ Qurrat al-‘Uyun, pg. 389]
Those spiritual guides who take the pledge of allegiance from their female followers by touching their hands and thus commit a prohibited act must find edification (in the above statements). We seek refuge in Allah (from such misdeeds).
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by the SeekersPath team
Read the original answer in Urdu here - [Q-ID0415] Can I shake the hand of a woman during a job interview?