The Legal Controversy of Handshaking Between Male and Female Teachers and Students: A Comparative Analysis of the Hanafi and Hanbali Schools

Abstract

This study examines Islamic legal perspectives on the practice of handshaking between teachers and students of the opposite sex, based on the views of the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of thought. Physical interaction between male and female teachers and students—particularly in the form of handshaking—has become a significant issue in contemporary fiqh discourse, as it closely relates to educational ethics, social interaction boundaries, and the normative framework of Islamic law. This study adopts a normative–theological legal approach by analyzing classical fiqh literature from both schools. Data were collected through library research and analyzed using a comparative method. The findings indicate that the Hanafi school generally allows handshaking between opposite sexes as long as it does not lead to temptation or moral suspicion (fitnah). Conversely, the Hanbali school predominantly prohibits such practice, even in the absence of sexual desire, as a preventive measure to safeguard dignity and avoid potential violations of Islamic legal principles. This study highlights the plurality of opinions within classical fiqh scholarship and provides normative contributions for the formulation of ethical guidelines and policy frameworks regulating teacher–student interactions in Islamic educational institutions.