Would It Be Permissible To Work As A Cashier?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Would it be permissible to work as a cashier when it is inevitable that one will touch a non-mahram woman’s hand when giving or receiving change? Can one wear gloves? Is there any dislike about this? What about wearing gloves when shaking hands?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

Yes, it is permissible to work as a cashier. It is possible to do this job without touching a non-mahram. Shakings hands with a non-mahram, however, is not permissible; and a job which entailed this would be impermissible.

Touching Non-Mahrams

In general, the Jurists say that it is impermissible to touch members of the opposite gender unless they are non-marriageable kin (mahrams), one’s spouse, or young children – provided there is no fear of any impermissible interaction. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “It is preferable for one of you to have his head pierced with a large iron needle than for him to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.” (Tabarani)

There are, however, various exceptions – with provisos – to this, such as a doctor having to examine a patient, or if someone saw a member of the opposite sex in danger, and saving them required pulling them up by the arm, for example. The Juristic principle “Necessity allows the bare minimum” would apply here.

Shaking hands with colleagues, clients, and customers would still be impermissible. One should simply place their hands on his chest, as a gesture of respect, and excuse himself. It is important to state the reason and that you wish them no disrespect or embarrassment. You’ll find people are accommodating if it’s done in a polite manner.

One should avoid shaking hands with the opposite gender completely. Wearing gloves does not remove the problem either. Contact through a cloth or barrier which allows the body heat to be felt is considered to be contacted.

Working as a Cashier

This is quite possible, and wearing gloves would be excessive. One approach I’ve observed both Muslim and non-Muslims use is to place the coins in the middle of the receipt, and then to place the receipt first in the palm with the coins on it. That way the receipt acts as a barrier.

This is a perfectly normal interaction and is not seen as disrespectful, unlike dropping the coins in the hand from a distance, for example. Even if there was to some slight momentary contact, it would be excused, provided that the touch is purely accidental and that it is not deliberately prolonged. Allah knows best.

(Ibn Abidin’ Radd al Muhtar; Tahtawi, Hashiya Maraqi al Falah; Zarqa, Sharh al Qawa’id al Fiqhiyya).

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.