Question: “Is it allowed for me to shake the hand of a strange woman if she places on her hand a barrier? Please answer with an explanation of the evidences. Is the ruling of a woman who is old in age like the woman young in age?
Answer: “It is not allowed for a person to shake the hand of a strange woman who is not his mahram whether it is directly or with a barrier because that is fitnah and Allah says: Do not come near zina indeed it is ever a immorality and evil as a way and this ayah indicates that is obligatory ofr us to leave off everything that leads to zina, whether it is zina of the private parts and it is the greatest or other than it. There is no doubt that a man touching the hand of strange woman raises desire. Verily Ahaadith have been reported on the severe threat for the one who shakes hands with a woman who is not his mahaarim. There is no difference in that between a young girl or an old woman because as it was said:
ساقطعة لاقطة
(an Arabic proverb meaning for every word that comes from the mouth a speaker, there is someone who listens to it and announces it).
Next, the age limit between a young girl and old woman differs in understanding, so someone will see this one as an old woman and the other will see this one as a youth” .
[found here: https://islamancient.com/play.php?catsmktba=7532]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
