No Hadeeth with This Meaning

11-9-2019 | IslamWeb

Question:

I heard that Al-Nawawi in his explanation of a hadith in Al-Bukhari 5241 said that it is haram for a man to touch another man except for handshaking. Is this true? Does that mean that if I touch another man's arm, I am sinning?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

We are neither aware of this Hadeeth nor of the statement of An-Nawawi in this regard.

The numbering (of Ahadeeth) in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari varies according to the version of the copy.

In any case, it does not appear that this statement is true, or that a man touching another man's arm without desire is forbidden and that the doer is sinful. The evidence that this statement is not true is that a man standing side by side and sticking his shoulder to the man’s shoulder next to him during the congregational prayer is required. Additionally, it is permissible for a man to hug and kiss another man in certain cases.

Allah Knows best.

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