348. Can Women Say Salaam To Non Mahram Men ?

By Asma bint Shameem

The general principle is that it’s *“allowed”* for women to say salaam to non mahram men and for the men to say salaam to women, 

*if there’s no fear of ‘fitnah’*  

*(temptation)*.

So for example if the woman is accompanied by her mahram, or 

there’s a group of women, then a man may say salaam to them.

Similarly, if there is a group of men they may greet a woman with salaam, as there’s less chance of fitnah. 

Asma' bint Yazeed said: 

"The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam passed by us women and greeted us with salaam." 

[Abu Dawood (5204); saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood]

Or if the woman is *old*, then a non mahram man may say salaam to her. 

Sahl ibn Sa'd said: 

"There was an old woman of our acquaintance who would send someone to Budaa'ah (a garden of date-palms in Madeenah). 

She would take the roots of silq (a kind of vegetable) and put them in a cooking pot with some powdered barley. After we had prayed Jumu'ah, we would go and greet her, then she should offer (that food) to us." 

[al-Bukhaari (6248)]

But if she’s young or there’s fear of any fitnah, it’s best to avoid saying salaam or having any interaction with the opposite gender.

Someone asked Imam Maalik: 

“Can a woman be greeted with salaam?”

He said: 

“With regard to the elderly woman, I do not regard that as makrooh, but with regard to the young woman, I do not like that.”

Imaam Al-Nawawi said: 

“Our companions said: 

"Women greeting women is like men greeting to men. 

But when it comes to women greeting men, if the woman is the man's wife, or his concubine, or one of his mahrams, then it is like him speaking to another man; it is mustahabb for either of them to initiate the greeting of salaam and the other is obliged to return the greeting. But if the woman is a stranger (non-mahram), if she is beautiful and there is the fear that he may be tempted by her, then the man should not greet her with salaam, and if he does then it is not permissible for her to reply; she should not initiate the greeting of salaam either, and if she does, she does not deserve a response. If he responds then this is makrooh. If she is an old woman and he will not be tempted by her, then it is permissible for her to greet the man with salaam and for the man to return her salaams. If there is a group of women then a man may greet them with salaam, or if there is a group of men, they may greet a woman with salaam, so long as there there is no fear that any of the parties may be tempted.”

[al-Adhkaar (p. 407)]

Saalih, the son of Imaam Ahmad said: 

“I asked my father about greeting women with salaam. 

He said: 

“With regard to old women, there is nothing wrong with it, but with regard to young women, they should not be prompted to speak by being made to return the salaam.”

So the bottom line is that we as Muslims should fear Allaah in all that we do. 

And we all know deep down what’s in our hearts.

If there’s ANY chance of fitnah or a fear of falling into temptation, we should NOT be greeting the opposite gender or replying back. 

But if there’s no such issue, then it’s “permissible” to greet each other in a *”straightforward”* way, without unnecessary talking or prolonging the conversation. 

And Allaah knows best.