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Fatwa CenterShaking hands with a female interviewer to get a job
Question
Asalama aleikum. I am unemployed individual. So i am in need of work because i have debts, and wish to start university, and it requires that i take a loan with rents or that i fund it myself. So i have decided to try to find work so that i can avoid the rents. In the country that i live roughly 50% of the employers/bosses are women. The problem is that when you get called in to a interview, its customary that you greet/handshake the individual that you meet. If the persons taking interview happens to females, and you refuse to shake their hand then most of them will not give you the job. I am in need of work, but i feel that i am kind of selling my religion if i would find my self in that kind of position.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We advise you to seek the help of Allaah, The Exalted, and strive to look for a job. If your interviewer happened to be a woman, then it is impermissible for you to shake hands with her. For details, please refer to Fatwa 82318.
Keep in mind that if you give up something for the sake of Allaah, He will give you something better in return. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {...And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out* And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allaah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allaah will accomplish His purpose. Allaah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.} [Quran 65:2-3] Moreover, the Prophet said: “You will not give up something for the sake of Allaah except that He will grant you something better than it.” [Ahmad]
We advise you to strive to look for a job and never give up; instead, you should utilize all the available means and place your hope in Allaah, The Exalted. You should turn to Allaah in earnest supplication and appeal to Him; verily, He answers the calls of those who are distressed and relieves hardships and burdens. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allaah? Little do you remember.} [Quran 27:62]
Allaah Knows best.
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