Is it haram to shake hands? How much physical contact is allowed between the sexes in Islam?
In general do not shake hands with the opposite sex
The default position is that you should not shake hands with non Mahrams of the opposite sex.
Overall, there is no agreed on 100% prohibition, but it is disliked.
All the narrations which talk about the prohibition of not shaking hands are weak, though some scholars support the authenticity of the narrations.
This does not mean you should go around shaking hands.
Social awkwardness
Consider the consequence of rejecting someone’s outstretched hand – they will feel insulted. Usually there isn’t enough time to react once a hand has been offered to you.
Living in the west, it can be awkward not to shake hands in your company, in some business meetings etc, it might cause embarrassment to you or the person whose hand you refuse to shake, it might give the wrong impression to people around you, so if you feel it is better to shake hands than not based on the situation, you can shake hands, based on the opinion of some scholars. However this should not be the norm.
Social norms
We have different customs and habits in different communities. Shaking hands is a common form of greeting in most cultures. Some cultures go beyond this, to a kiss on the cheeks or hugs, or nose rubbing.
If it does not overstep boundaries, you can use a forms of greeting, such as hugs between women and women, or between men and men. We do not have hugs between non-Mahram men and women.
Usually if you do not greet people in the way that is the norm for that culture it will be deemed rude and insulting. If you are going anywhere new, find out what their norm is. In Chinese culture, the way they present their business card is particular, they hold it with both hands and then place it in your hand.
The Prophet (peace be on him) said it is the right of a Muslim to be greeted. Therefore we greet everyone – Muslims, non-Muslims, men and women, however the majority opinion is that men and women cannot shake hands, as it is haram.
Differentiating between strong and weak hadith
There is a hadith that it is better to hold a red hot coal than shake hands. When you go through these narrations, they are generally weak, not strong or sahih. In order to say something is haram you need a strong narration. At least, you might say it is doubtful and that it is better to avoid it, than to forbid it.
Obey the commands to the best of your ability
Allah Almighty said:
So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can. (64:16)
If you shake hands with someone of the opposite sex, then do istighfar and ask Allah to protect you.
The bottom line is that it is preferable not to shake hands, but you can if you have to. Don’t do it, if you feel there the gesture will create harm. Use your common sense and judgment.
Islam does not allow physical contact between the sexes
Overall, Muslims avoid any physical contact between sexes, unless it is unavoidable, such as a medical need or necessity. If a doctor or specialist of the same sex is not available or it is a medical emergency or it is a localised area such as dentist, as he/she only touches your face, you should not make contact with others of the opposite sex. Therefore it is wrong to have a massage or haircut by someone of the opposite sex.
Can I be seen by a chiropractor of the opposite sex?
In general you should find chiropractors and other professionals who need to touch you from your own sex. Even if you are clothed, Islam is particular about minimising contact between the sexes.
Even though you may say that it is only a professional interaction, or a brief interaction, or through clothes, or that your intentions are innocent, you do not know what thoughts are going through the mind of the practitioner or what their emotions are, and we all have emotions. None of us are robots. Therefore find the practitioner of the same sex.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim – The Thursday Knowledge Circle on Al Ghazali’s Forty Principles of Religion. Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din.
This book is the last book Ghazali wrote. Towards the end of this life, after he had accomplished and completed Ihya Ulum ad Deen, he summarised the Ihya in 40 principles. In chapter 8, Ghazali looks at how to deal with people and uphold their rights.
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Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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