Question
Reference number: 858676 | Purity | Aug. 18, 2026
What is the Islamic ruling on a female physician touching a male patient?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon the noblest of creation, our master Muhammad, the trustworthy, and upon all his family and Companions.
With reference to your question stated above, the touching of a patient by a physician of the opposite sex, provided that the contact does not involve the major private parts, does not invalidate ablution according to the majority of scholars, contrary to the view of Imam al-Shafi‘i, may Allah have mercy on him.
The general principle in medical treatment is that the physician should be of the same sex as the patient: male patients should be treated by male physicians, and female patients by female physicians, except in cases of necessity.
This is in accordance with the decision of the Higher Fatwa Council, Decision No. 1/116, dated 17 April 2014.
