The permissibility of shaking hands with an individual who is not a maḥram depends on the connotation shaking hands carries in the societal context in which the individual resides. For example, in many regions of the world, typically in the West, shaking hands does not have any sexual or disrespectful connotations, and therefore it is permitted. However, in instances, where it is connotated with the sense of disrespect it would be considered impermissible.