Salam to all ,
There is a hadith linked with a vers of the quran which indicates that the Prophet did not shake Hands with woman according to some ulama.
Aischa, the wife of the Prophet said: 'When the believing women migrated (to Medina) and came to the Prophet they would be examined in accordance with the words in the Quran:
"O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the Bay?ah (pledge of allegiance), that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual intercourse, that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood , and that they will not disobey you in any Ma'ruf then accept their Bay?ah (pledge of allegiance), and ask Allah to forgive them, Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful". [Noble Quran 60:12]
Any of the believing women who accepted the conditions of the verse and agreed to live by them were considered to have offered themselves for giving their oaths of allegiance. When they declared their commitment to do so, the Prophet would say to them, "You may go. I have confirmed your allegiance."
I swear by Allah, the Prophet's hand never touched the hand of a woman. He would receive their oath of allegiance by spoken declaration. I swear by Allah, the Prophet never took any vow from women except what Allah had ordered him to take and his palm never touched the palm of a woman. When he had taken their pledge, he would tell them he had taken their oath from them orally. ' [Sahih Muslim]
But is this habit not contradicted to sura 4:86"When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things."
If handshake is a form or part of greeting then this ayat is abbrogating the first ayat mentioned above .And if the custom is to bow down like in Asia ,i bow too and maybe a second time or third to greet in better return?
