Question:
Salaam alaykum..
Someone asked me: ‘if men and women aren’t allowed to touch each other in Islam then what will happen if they are unconscious and someone has to perform CPR or something which involves direct contact’ – i don’t have authority therefore, i couldn’t answer this question..
Under what circumstances CAN men and women touch? and what would be done in this situation?
Jazakallah Kheir
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
All scholars agree that it is not permissible for a man to touch a woman. The position of Imam Abu Hanifa’s school is reflected by Ibn Nujaim:
“It is not permissible for a man to touch a woman’s face or hands even if there is no risk of desire because it is haram in principle and there is no necessity that would allow it.”
Al-Bahr al-Raa’iq, 8/219
Wali al-Deen al-‘Iraaqi said: The words of ‘Aa’ishah, “He (SAWS) used to accept the women’s oath of allegiance by words only” means that he did so without taking their hands or shaking hands with them. This indicates that the bay’ah of men was accepted by taking their hands and shaking hands with them, as well as by words, and this is how it was.
You can always break the rules if necessary (CPR) to save the life of another person or your life (to eat pork or drink alcohol…) if you are stranded with absolutely no food except pork and no drink except alcohol.
Imam Senad Agic
Head Imam (IABNA)
The Islamic Association of Bosniaks in North America
American Islamic Center – Chicago
