Nor is it permissible for a man to be alone with the maid who works in his house, nor for the lady of the house to be alone with a male servant. The matter of household servants has become a serious problem in our time, afflicting many families because women are now occupied with study and employment outside the home. This calls on believing men and women to exercise great caution, to put the necessary safeguards in place, and not to let themselves be swept along by harmful customs.

[Continuation: It is forbidden for a woman to shake hands with a man who is not her maḥram]

Continuation: A woman is forbidden to shake hands with a man who is not her maḥram.

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāz, General President of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Fatwā, Daʿwah, and Guidance (may Allah have mercy on him), said in his Fatāwā, published by the Islamic Call Press Foundation (1/185):

“It is absolutely impermissible to shake hands with women who are not maḥrams, whether the women are young or elderly and whether the one extending his hand is a young man or an old man, because of the very real danger of temptation for both sides. It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘I do not shake hands with women,’ and ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, ‘The hand of the Messenger of Allah never touched the hand of any woman; he accepted their pledge only verbally.’ There is no difference whether the handshake is through a barrier or directly, for the general proofs apply to both cases and because blocking the means that lead to temptation is obligatory.” End quote.

Shaykh Muḥammad al-Amīn al-Shanqīṭī (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Tafsīr—