Then, after the interview (which went very well alhamdulilah) we both stood up and walked towards the door. I quietly said to her, “just a quick point out of respect – I know that I shook your hand today before the interview, but normally Muslims aren’t supposed to physically make contact with the other gender unless they are from immediate family.” She completely understood, and most importantly, I didn’t embarrass her by turning it down immediately. Things are best explained before or after the fact, not during because it can cause uneasiness or tension. That’s my experience, and although it may not be the best, I feel that in the long run, it worked well alhamdulilah.

Yeah, my wife does the same thing, I guess it’s a married thing . Alhamdulilah.

And wisdom isn’t always “don’t’ say anything at all.” Allah mentions in the Qur’an that Muslims are the best people because they enjoin good and forbid evil.

We just gotta do so in ways that are wise and when it comes to elders of different cultures, with respect. That’s how the Prophet (SAW) did things.

The ultimate solution, however, is the separation of the two genders. I do not think that the prophet and his wife (peace on both of them) were ever going around greeting people and their families in mixed gatherings.

Believe it or not, us uncles find ourselves in awkward situations like this also, where a young “so called” niece of ours starts to approach us for a hug. At times like this, I resort to just touching their head and make dua for them.

I pray to Allah SWT to help us all in establishing a true Islamic society where issues like this would be easier to deal with.