Some contemporary writers have raised a doubt about shaking hands with non-mahram women, saying: there is nothing wrong with an innocent handshake.

And also about being alone with a non-mahram woman in an innocent way, as long as the heart is pure, and that faith is in the heart.

As for his ﷺ statement: I do not shake hands with women, they say this is specific to him ﷺ. What is your response to this doubt? May Allah grant you success.

Our response to this doubt: it is a mistake.

This statement is a mistake, because the Prophet ﷺ

said: No man should be alone with a woman except in the presence of her mahram.

And this is general, and he said: Beware of entering upon women, and this is general.

They even said, O Messenger of Allah, what about the in-law? Meaning, the husband's relative enters the house of his relative. He said: The in-law is death, meaning beware of him.

And shaking hands is even more serious than being alone, because if the handshake is without a barrier, it is direct body contact.

And it is not hidden what this can cause in terms of arousing desire.

No matter what the person's heart is like. The second case is if there is a barrier.

For it is possible that Satan may mislead the person.

Until he squeezes the hand strongly or shakes it off or something similar to that which happens.

The whole issue is a mistake. As for the saying of the Messenger ﷺ and as for the fact that the Prophet ﷺ never touched the hand of a woman.

This is not something specific to him, rather it is permissible for him ﷺ.

To be alone with women in ways that are not allowed for others.

There are several authentic narrations that indicate it was permissible for the Messenger ﷺ to be alone with a woman, and for her to uncover herself before him.

During the Farewell Pilgrimage, a woman asked.

She asked about performing Hajj on behalf of her father, and she was a beautiful woman.

Al-Fadl ibn Abbas was riding behind the Messenger ﷺ on his camel, and he began to look at her, so the Prophet turned his face away.

This shows that the Messenger ﷺ is allowed to look at women in ways that others are not, because he is the furthest of people from suspicion.

This is a doubt that is not really a doubt.

Except for those who have a disease in their hearts.

The poet Al-Mutanabbi says: Whoever has a sick, bitter mouth will find even pure water bitter.