The Ruling on Shaking Hands With the Non- Mahram, Sitting With Them and Kissing Them

Question :

I live at present in the city of Riyadh and I have kin there to whom I am very closely related. Among them are the daughters of my maternal aunt and the wives of my paternal uncles and their daughters. When I visit them, I offer salutations of peace to them and kiss them and they sit with me and they are unveiled, and I am uncomfortable with this custom. Bearing in mind that this custom is widespread in the southern areas, what is your view regarding this custom and what should I do? Advise me, and may Allah reward you with goodness.

Answer:

This is an evil, reprehensible custom which is incompa- tible with the pure Islamic Law. It is not permissible to kiss them or shake hands with them, because the wives of your paternal uncles, the daughters of your paternal uncle, and the daughters of your maternal uncle are not unlawful in marriage for you. So it is incumbent upon them to veil themselves from you and not to show their beauty to you, in accordance with the Words of Allah, Most Glorified:
"And when you ask for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts'"

This Verse is general, its meaning includes the wives of the Prophet SAW and other women, according to the most correct of two opinions held by the scholars. Whoever said that it applies only to the wives of the Prophet SAW ,his saying is false and there is no evidence for it. And He, Most Glorified says in Surah An- Nur:
"...and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers."

And you are not one of those who is exempted; indeed, you are unrelated (Ajnabi) to the daughters of your paternal uncle, your maternal uncle, and the wives of your paternal uncles. This means that you are not a Mahram for them. So it is incumbent upon you to inform them of what we have said and read this ruling to them so that they excuse you (from kissing and shaking hands) and so that they know the ruling of the Islamic Law on this, and that it is sufficient to offer salutations of peace to them by words, without kissing or shaking hands. This is because of the Verse which we have mentioned and the words of the Prophet:
"Verily, I do not shake hands with women."

And the words of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her: "By Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah never touched the hand of a woman. He did not accept the pledge of allegiance from women except in words."

And the confirmed narration in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in the story of the lie, in which she said: "When I heard the voice of Safwan bin Al-Mu'attal, I veiled my face and he had seen me before the Hijab (became compulsory)."

This proves that the women used to cover their faces after the Verse of Al-Hijab was revealed. May Allah improve the situation of the Muslims and bless them with understanding in the religion. And Allah is the Granter of success.