Ali Rıza Demircan evaluated the handshake crisis in Syria. Is shaking hands between men and women forbidden?

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The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Shara in the capital Damascus. During the meeting, Shara greeted Baerbock with a head nod and shook Barrot's hand. In her assessment of the situation, Baerbock stated, "It was clear to me that there would be no ordinary handshake when I arrived here." After the handshake crisis, the Islamic aspect of the issue had come back to the agenda.

IS HANDSHAKING BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN FORBIDDEN?

Turkish theologian and writer Ali Rıza Demircan addressed the Islamic dimension of the issue in detail in his article titled "Is Handshaking Between Men and Women Forbidden?". In his article, Demircan stated that it is sunnah for Muslim men and women to shake hands with each other when they meet, emphasizing that handshaking between men and women, which is related to privacy (marriage prohibition) and the marriage bond, is legitimate and of sunnah nature.

EVALUATED IN TWO WAYS

In the article, it was stated that handshaking between a man and a woman who do not have privacy and marriage ties is evaluated in two ways: "Some Islamic scholars believe that handshakes that do not aim for sexual pleasure are haram, just like handshakes aimed at sexual pleasure. Other Islamic scholars hold the view that handshakes between the opposite sexes, which do not have privacy and marriage ties, are fundamentally halal."

"HANDSHAKING FOR SEXUAL PLEASURE IS FORBIDDEN"

The article stated that while handshakes that do not aim for sexual pleasure are fundamentally halal, they should be avoided as they may lead to haram:

"In conclusion, we say that handshaking is sunnah. Handshaking between a man and a woman who do not have privacy and marriage ties for the purpose of sexual pleasure is haram. Only Allah knows the truth, and it may also invalidate ablution. Because each of them is too exalted to reach each other, too sacred to touch. Handshaking that does not aim for sexual purposes is fundamentally halal and does not invalidate ablution. However, it should be avoided unless there is a compelling reason, as it may lead to haram. Undoubtedly, the authority that will judge us based on our intentions and actions is only Allah."

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