Cover image via The Star
"Do royals shake hands with women? What about the prime minister, does he shake hands with people of the opposite sex? Don't a lot of people shake hands with women?"
Those were the puzzling questions Johor's crown prince was left with after he was accused by netizens of bridging Islamic laws for shaking the hands of JDT captain Safiq Rahim's wife.
Image via Facebook/Johor Southern Tigers
How did the whole issue start?
On 21 February, the [Johor Southern Tigers](https://www.facebook.com/johorsoutherntigers.com.my/) Facebook page posted a few photos of HRH Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim officiating a new restaurant opened by Johor Darul Ta'zim FC captain Safiq Rahim.
The photos were similar to most event photos; arrival of the VIP, meet and greet and of course the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Instead of the usual congratulatory messages that pour in when events like these are highlighted, a group of netizens decided to take hits at a photo of JDT player Mohd Safiq Rahim's wife shaking hands with the crown prince.
Here's the photo that sparked the negative comments:
Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim greeted by Safiq and wife upon his arrival
Image via Facebook/Johor Southern Tigers
Just hours after the photo was posted, comments started pouring in about how shaking the hands of the opposite sex is deemed un-Islamic
Image via Facebook/Johor Southern Tigers
However, a lot of netizens came to the crown prince's defense, mostly talking about how the issue isn't even worth discussing about as there's nothing wrong with a platonic handshake
Image via Facebook/Johor Southern Tigers
Responding to the unsavoury comments in true TMJ fashion, the southern crown prince uploaded a satirical video, taking a hit at all those who insisted that he should have not shook the hands of an unrelated female
"We are simply human beings and therefore should not judge others especially on petty things. Islam is about love and respect and not about judging others especially when it involves hatred," added TMJ in a posting on the JOHOR Southern Tigers' Facebook page.
Image via The Malaysian Insider
