11. Shaking hands between men and women.

Unfortunately, it has become a very common practice for Muslim men and women to shake hands. It does not matter whether this is done with good intentions, or whether it is done with other purposes in their heart.

It is reported that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "That a metal is stabbed into a man's head is better for him than to touch a woman that is not halal for him".

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) also said: "The eyes commit zina (fornication), and the hands and legs commit zina, and the private parts commit zina".

Therefore, it is clear that it is strongly prohibited for any man to touch a woman that is not halal to him. Also, the second hadith mentions that fornication is not only committed by the private parts, but also by the hands which is a reference to touching a woman. The Prophet did not place a condition on this that the mans action be pure or with desire, which means this applies in all cases.

And who can have a more pure heart than Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), who said "I do not shake hands with women"? The Prophet's wife Aisha also said: "No, by Allah, Prophet Mohammad's hand never touched a women at all, and he used to take bay'ah from them by words".

It is known that when men wanted to enter into Islam, they used to do bay'ah with the Prophet where they agree to abide by his commands and avoid anything he prohibits. Then they used to seal this by shaking hands with the Prophet. However, with women, the Prophet used to never shake their hand and simply complete the bay'ah with words.

One final note is that some Muslims believe that shaking hands with women is allowed unless the man or woman has performed abolution (wudoo'). This has no basis. Some scholars have said that if a man performed abolution, and then touches his wife, his abolution has been broken and he must re-do it before prayers. They did not in any way permit shaking hands with other women who are not halal to the man.
 

12. Not knowing about the torture of the grave.

The torture of the grave (Athab Al Qabr) is established by the holy Qur'an, the Sunnah and the consensus of the scholars:

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Seek refuge in Allah from the torture of the grave... " (repeating this statement three times).

Allah (swt) said: "The Hellfire they are presented to it in the morning and evening, and on the day of judgment: Enter the people of the Pharoe in the most severe torture" (Ghafir, 46).

This verse, and other similar verses in the holy Qur'an, have been explained by the scholars of tafseer as: The first time they are presented to hellfire refers to the torture of the grave. After that, on the day of judgment, they are sent to the most severe torture, which is the hellfire.

Also, Allah (swt) said: "If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying), "Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward, a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and scornfully to reject of His Signs!" (Al-An'am, 93).

Again this verse refers to the angels punishing and beating the disbelievers on the day they die, which is a reference to the torture of the grave which occurs before the day of judgment and immediately after death.

In addition, the Prophet (pbuh) described the torture of the grave and warned about it in many sayings. Anyone interested should research further about this subject.