QUESTION:

Is intermingling of men and women in front of Peers/Shaykhs allowed? Also, can women kiss the hand of a Peer/Shaykh?  

ANSWER:

Intermingling of non-mahram men and women is haraam (forbidden), be it in front of Pirs/Shaykhs or the Masjid or any other place. A non-mahram woman cannot kiss the hand of a Pir or Shaykh. It is haraam and an act that will lead one towards Hell.

It says in the Holy Qur’an:

“And command the Muslim women to keep their gaze low and to protect their chastity, and not to reveal their adornment except what is apparent, and to keep the cover wrapped over their bosoms; and not to reveal their adornment except to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or women of their religion, or the bondwomen they possess, or male servants provided they do not have manliness, or such children who do not know of women’s nakedness, and not to stamp their feet on the ground in order that their hidden adornment be known; and O Muslims, all of you turn in repentance together towards Allah, in the hope of attaining success.” ​

[Surah al-Nur Verse 24: verse 31]

The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) ordered his wives Umme Salma and Maimoona (may Allah be pleased with them) to observe the veil with Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Maktoom (رضي الله عنه), who was blind. When the wives said that he is blind, the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) replied he is blind but you are not blind.

[Mishkat – Babul Nazar ilal Makhtoobah]

Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه) answering to a similar question writes, “It is obligatory to observe veil with a Pir when is he not a mahram.” and in this case (of a Pir giving bayah with non-mahram women without veil) it is against the Shari’ah and against modesty – Bayah should not be done with such Pirs.”

[Fatawa Ridawiyyah Vol 22 Page 247]

Any true Peer or Shaykh would not allow these prohibited things to happen in front of him. This is the reason why one of the prerequisite for someone to become a Pir is that, he should be an Aalim, so that he knows the Islamic Laws and abides by them.

Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه) has described four pre-requisites of a Pir:

  1. His chain should be continuous and unbroken from him till the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم)
  2. He should be Sunni Sahi-ul-Aqeedah
  3. He should not be Fasiq-e-Mu’allin i.e openly doing acts against the Sharia’h and
  4. He should be an Aalim, having enough knowledge not to be misguided himself nor misguide others, and be able to extract rulings from books by himself. [Fatawa Africa Page-123]

Allah knows best.

Answered by Mawlana Mohammed Kashif

Also see:

[Q-ID0017] A Sufi who doesn’t follow the Shariah, is that possible?

[Q-ID0040] What are the conditions to become a Pir (spiritual guide)?

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