Question:

My question is about hugging in islam. I am a student at university and each time I go to see my supervisor for my project, he always comes to hug me as a welcome even though I appear indifferent to that and no feelings arouse from what he does. Is it forbidden in Islam? This also happens even when I’m fasting and I keep trying to point this out to him since he’s not a Muslim. Does this invalidate my fast? If yes, what can I do to make up for the lost ones?

Also, with regards to shaking hands with men, is it permitted or haram in Islam?

Answer:

Physical contact of any form between two people of different genders who are not mahram to one another is haram. Therefore you should explain to your lecturer that his behaviour is inappropriate and that as a Muslim woman you cannot hug him or shake his hand at all.

Your fast is valid from a jurisprudential point of view and you do not need to repeat it, but the act of having physical contact with a member of the other gender is a sin and may ruin the reward of the fast. You should try your best to avoid this circumstance. As awkward as it may seem, God will help you through it and you will only gain more respect in the eyes of your colleagues.

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei