FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
AL-KAFI #1149: HUKUM BERSALAMAN DENGAN BERLAINAN JANTINA AJNABI
Is one required to accept a handshake offered by a non-mahram of the opposite sex in order to preserve their feelings?
Short answer
Scholars differ on shaking hands with an unrelated person of the opposite sex.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Scholars differ on shaking hands with an unrelated person of the opposite sex. The majority, including the Shafi'i school, hold it forbidden, while some views permit it under conditions such as necessity, absence of desire and safety from temptation. Al-Kafi leans towards respecting the local school, which is Shafi'i in Malaysia, and allows it only in specific situations meeting the stated conditions.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Dan jumhur ulama' termasuk mazhab Syafie' mengharamkan bersalaman di antara lelaki dengan wanita yang bukan mahramnya.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1149: HUKUM BERSALAMAN DENGAN BERLAINAN JANTINA AJNABI”, 14 March 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3195-al-kafi-1149-hukum-bersalaman-dengan-berlainan-jantina-ajnabi. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-handshake-opposite-sex-non-mahram/