Is it Halal to shake hands with women and kiss them on occasion? Here this is normal and I'm frequently faced with such situations in which I cannot avoid handshaking and kissing! Thanks a lot.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Whosoever believes in Allaah and the last day has no right shaking hands with any alien woman (those to whom marriage is permissible), let alone kissing them. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , said: “If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle, it would be better for him than touching a woman whom he is not permitted to touch.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Whoever touches the hand of a woman who is not permissible for him will be handed a burning coal on Day of Resurrection.”

There is no difference in this issue among the jurists. A person must avoid all these actions which are common in society but forbidden in Islam. A person must not make the customs of his society as an evidence or basis for his actions. Evidence lies only in the Quran and the Sunnah. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “You should not be a time server, following the people in their good and bad. Rather, be determinant and do what is correct, regardless of what is going on around you." Know also that the real Muslim is proud of his religion. He is not ashamed of following the Sunnah, enjoining the good and avoiding the evil. Allaah Says (what means): {So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad and you will be superior (in victory) if you are true believers.}[Quran 3:139]

Allaah Knows best.