almuhtada.org – Islam is a religion that guides its people towards a better life. Islamic law explains all aspects of life through the rules that have been set, in order to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter.
The aspect of the interaction between Muslim men and women is an example. There is one problem that has become common in society, namely contact between men.
Quoted from the Journal of Comparative Studies of Imam Nawawi and Yusuf Al-Qardhawi’s Thoughts on Shaking Hands with Non-Mahrams in Islam, Imam Nawawi in the book Adzkar said: ‘The Prophet’s friends said: ‘Every person who is forbidden to look at is also forbidden to touch, and touching is even more forbidden. It is okay to look at another woman when you want to marry her, but it is not okay to touch any part of her.”
This saying is in line with a hadith of the Prophet. Where the Prophet SAW said, he did not shake hands or touch skin with women who were not his mahrams.
An-Nasa’i narrated, the Prophet said to the Anshar women when they came to the Prophet to give allegiance: “ Indeed I do not shake hands with women. Indeed, what I say to a hundred women is like what I say to one woman.” (HR Nasa’i)
Still quoted from the Journal of Comparative Studies of Imam Nawawi and Yusuf Al-Qardhawi’s Thoughts on Shaking Hands with Non-Mahrams in Islam, Imam Nawawi argues that the law of skin contact (shaking hands) with non-mahrams is haram. He took the hadith of the Prophet narrated by Ma’qil bin Yasar as a basis.
Rasulullah SAW said, “If the head of one of you is poked with an iron needle, it is better for him than touching a woman who is not halal for him”. (HR Ar-Ruyani, Ath-Thabrani, & Baihaqi)
Imam Nawawi also explained that the hadith above does not specify women. So the prohibition of touching the skin of a non-mahram woman applies to all women; whether an elderly woman, or a child who has reached puberty, even if there is no desire between the two.
In the book Uqudulujain, Baihaqi narrated a hadith which is also the basis for the prohibition of non-mahram men and women touching.
Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Every (member of the body) of the son of Adam has the opportunity to commit adultery: the eye, has the opportunity for adultery, and the adultery is: looking or looking. The hands have the opportunity to commit adultery, and the adultery is touching. And, the feet have the opportunity to commit adultery, and the adultery is stepping. The mouth has the possibility of committing adultery, and the adultery is kissing. The heart has strong wishes or desires, and the private parts confirm it or deny it.” (HR Baihaqi)
A number of hadiths above prohibit skin contact between men and women who are not mahrams in Islam. The prohibition is set because touching the skin can cause lust between the two. The fear of the cause of fitnah is also one of the factors. [Fahdina Dean]
Editor: Syukron Ma’mun
