Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question:
Is it permissible to smile at non-mahram relatives and co-workers at work as it is the norm of society when it comes to greetings?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question.
Smiling
Smiling is a part of courteous behavior and is one of the most minimal cordial things a person can do when trying to minimize gender interaction. Sometimes, a smile and wave can suffice in the place of words and leaves the other party satisfied. Please see these links about gender interaction:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/mixed-gatherings-a-detailed-response-regarding-gender-interaction/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/gender-interaction/
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.