ANSWERED: Greeting women

[Umar]

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

I would like to know the general ruling for greeting women, both muslims and non-muslims. I have a doubt in how should I greet them. Here in Portugal there's a social habit of greeting people of the opposite sex with two kisses, one in each cheek. It's not intimate in any sorts, it's just a cultural thing.

I would like to know the islamic approach to this.

[Kareem]

it's not allowed, you cannot touch a member of the opposite sex (unless shes a close relative [someone please specify who are close relatives])

[nauk]

ws,

I noticed this when i was in Lisbon. My mate said if the woman looked scary to try and say hello stepping back. lol

[VeiledOne]

It is not permissible to touch, kiss, or hug a nonmahram while greeting them despite it being a cultural thing. If it is necessary for you to greet them, then try to find an alternative.

Shaking hands with the opposite gender

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Generally in the West, shaking hands is a polite form of greeting, and not shaking hands is often considered rude. Many times, non-Muslim men want to shake my hand (I am female). When there is an opportunity to explain my religion, I do. But sometimes, there is not this opportunity or their gesture to shake my hand happens in front of an audience, such as at a banquet or during a formal introduction. I do not want to be rude and give Muslims a bad image (I especially do not want to be condescending). How do I go about this awkward situation?



Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah,


The ruling across the madhhabs is that it is not permitted to shake hands with someone non-related of the opposite sex. This is sometimes difficult to implement: the ruling of impermissibility remains, however, and one should:


a) Ask Allah to make things easy; and

b) Seek the means to be able to avoid falling into the impermissible, for Allah not only commanded us to avoid the sinful but also to take the means that enable one to do so.


Faraz Rabbani.

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?ID=3645