Shaking hands with the elderly women

I’m a Yemeni man living in England, and it is within the culture of many Arabs to shake hands with members of the opposite sex. I know this to be haram so I’ve recently made a promise to totally stop it. The problem is the elderly women take it very personal and I’ve had one lady come and complain to my mother about me. These women are like aunties that treat me like their own and so are even more hurt when I avoid shaking their hands. I’ve tried explaining it to my family but they insist that there is nothing wrong with shaking hands with elderly women. I need some advice.

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah,

It is prohibited to shake hands with non-immediate relations of the opposite sex, except when:

a) they are elderly; and

b) there is no fear of temptation or desire.

When not elderly, it is not permitted even without such fear, and is sinful.

Faraz Rabbani.

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