Q: Could you please provide the Hadith, with Rawi etc. concerning the strict prohibition of a man touching a woman's hand, since I had heard that "A man's shoulder touching that of a woman is worse than touching a swine . . ."
The Hadith is "It is better that a steel nail be impaled on one's head than that he touches the palm of a woman . . ." (Au kama Qaala) or words to the effect.
My friend who works in a mixed workplace told me that women shoot out their hands for a handshake . . . once he dropped his keys and stooped to pick it up, and then arose to find the confounded hand still there. He avoided again by saying he's got to go to the loo.
[Later I advised that to say straightaway, "Being a Muslim I cannot touch your hand nor look at you." which might offend the greeter, but will please Allah.] Please guide. Allah has praised and described the Ulama, "Innamaa yakhshallaha min Ibaadihil Ulamaa." (Is this correct?)