Being alone with a non-mahram woman

Shaytaan is always keen to tempt people and make them commit haraam deeds. For t
his reason, Allaah warned us (interpretation of the meaning):
O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan. And whosoever follows th
e footsteps of Shaytaan, then, verily he commands al-fahshaa (indecency) and al-m
unkar (evil deeds) . . . [al-Noor 24:21]
Shaytaan runs through the veins of mankind like blood, and one of the ways in wh
ich he induces people to commit indecent acts is by leading a man to be alone wi
th a non-mahram woman. Islaam blocks this way by forbidding such conduct, as the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: No man is alone with a
(non-mahram) woman, but Shaytaan will be the third among them. (Reported by al-T
irmidhi, 3/474; see also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3118). Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pl
eased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: From this day on, no man should enter upon a woman who
se husband is absent unless there is another man or two with him. (Reported by Mu
slim, 4/1711). It is not permitted for a man to be alone in a house, room or car
with a non-mahram woman, including his brothers wife or a servant. Similarly a f
emale patient should not be alone with a doctor, and so on. Many people are care
less about this matter, whether because they trust themselves or for some other
reason, with the results that many commit indecent acts or take the steps that l
ead to them, which in turn results in the tragedies of confused lineage and ille
gitimate births.
Shaking hands with a non-mahram woman
This is one of the cases where incorrect social customs have taken precedence ov
er the laws of Allaah, to such an extent that if you try to talk to people and s
how them evidence that this is wrong, they will accuse you of being backward, ha
ving a complex, trying to break family ties, doubting their good intentions, etc
. Shaking hands with female cousins, brothers wives and uncles wives is now easier
than drinking water in our society, but if we look properly we will understand
the seriousness of the matter.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: If one of you were
to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle it would be better for him than to
uching a woman whom he is not permitted to touch. (Reported by al-Tabaraani, 20/2
12; see also Saheeh al-Jaami, 4921).There is no doubt that this is an act of zina
a, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The ey
es may commit zinaa, the hands may commit zinaa, the feet may commit zinaa and t
he private parts may commit zinaa." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 1/412; see also Sa
heeh al-Jaami', 4921).
Is there anyone more pure in heart than Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him)? Yet still he said, I do not shake hands with women. (Reported by Ima
am Ahmad, 6/357; see also Saheeh al-Jaami, 7054, and al-Isaabah, 4/354, Daar al-K
itaab al-Arabi edition). And he said, "I do not touch the hands of women." (Repor
ted by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 24/342; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 7054 and al
-Isaabah, 4/354, Dar al-Kutub al-'Arabi edition).Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased wi
th her) said: No, by Allaah, the hand of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and bless
ings of Allaah be upon him) never touched the hand of a (non-mahram) woman. He r
eceived bayah (pledge of allegiance) from them by word only. (Reported by Muslim,
3/489). Let them fear Allaah, those people who threaten their pious wives with d
ivorce if they do not shake hands with their brothers.
We should also note that placing a barrier such as a piece of cloth is of no use
; it is still haraam to shake hands with a non-mahram woman.