There has been much discussion in the media recently about women complaining about being inappropriately touched by men during their lives. These stories have caused a lot of anger and outrage from society because it demonstrated how widespread this problem really is. In light of this, I wanted to share the following benefit that shows that Islam prohibits a man from touching a woman who is unlawful for him [i.e. is not his wife or family member].
Abu Shahm (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
كنتُ رجُلًا بطَّالًا، قال: فمَرَّت بي جاريةٌ في بعضِ طُرُقِ المدينةِ، إذ هَوَيتُ إلى كَشحِها، فلمَّا كان الغَدُ قال: فأتى النَّاسُ رَسولَ الله صلَّى اللهُ عليه وعلى آله وسلَّم يُبايِعونَه، فأتيته فبسَطْتُ يدي لأبايِعَه، فقبَضَ يَدَه وقال: أحسَبُك صاحِبَ الجُبَيذةِ؟ يعني، أمَا إنِّك صاحبُ الجُبيذةِ أمسِ، قال: قلتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ، بايعِني، فواللهِ لا أعودُ أبدًا؟ قال: فنَعَم إذًا.
I used to be an unemployed man. Once a young girl passed by me in one of the streets of Madinah when I extended my hand and touched her side. When it was the next day, the people went to the Prophet (ﷺ) to give him the pledge of allegiance. So I came and extended my hand for the pledge of allegiance and he (ﷺ) said: I consider you the one who pulled/grabbed [the young girl], (that is you are the one who pulled/grabbed the young girl yesterday). I said: O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), give me the pledge of allegiance. By Allah, I will not do this ever again. He said: Then, yes [I will]”
[Reported in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (5/294) and graded Saheeh by Imam al-Wadi’ee in Jami’ as-Saheeh (3/85)]
Shaikh Muqbil rahimahullah placed this Hadith under the chapter title:
“A man extending his hand to a woman who is prohibited for him” [Saheeh Musnad (3/85)]
In another Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Aswad ibn Asram (may Allah be pleased with him):
لا تبسُطْ يدَكَ إلَّا إلى خيرٍ ، ولا تقُلْ بلسانِكَ إلَّا معروفًا
Do not extend your hand except towards to good and do not say with your tongue except good [Saheeh Targheeb no. 2867]
In yet another Hadith, Ma’qal ibn Yasaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger (ﷺ) said:
لأن يطعن أحد بمخيط من حديد في رأس خير له من أن يمس امرأة لا تحلّ له
For anyone of you to be punctured through the head by an iron rod is better for him than to touch a woman who is not permissible for him to touch [Saheeh Targheeb no. 1910]
We learn from the above narrations that this behavior is wrong and unlawful. Islam teaches men to respect women and their honor.
May Allah guide the people to the truth
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
