Is a wife entitled to prevent her husband from shaking hands with women, given the conflicts that arise between them due to the husband's insistence on doing so?
Shaking hands with non-mahram women is Islamically forbidden. It is permissible for the wife to condemn this act of her husband as a way of enjoining good and forbidding evil. However, it is not permissible for the wife to threaten her husband with shaking hands with non-mahram men if he does not stop shaking hands with women, because this is a threat to commit a sin and undermines the husband's 'qawamah' (guardianship/headship). 'Qawamah' belongs to the husband, and it means looking after worldly and religious interests. The wife should cease this behavior and advise her husband gently, while being cautious to avoid conflict and discord.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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