Ruling on a man kissing or hugging a woman on the grounds of friendship
Question

                Is it allowed for a muslim kiss (friendly) a non-mahrum muslim of the opposite sex on the cheek? How about friendly hugging?

Is the sin of the same magnitude if done when in need of friendly company which only the other person can provide?
Praise be to Allah.It is haraam 
    for a man to take women as friends. See question no. 
    1114. 
A person 
    should be wise, because whoever says that a man may kiss his female friend 
    on the face in a friendly manner and hug her in a friendly manner is saying 
    something that is regarded as foolish and stupid. It is obvious to any wise 
    person than this kind of behaviour provokes desire, and this is the path 
    that leads to zina (fornication, adultery). It cannot be said that his 
    intention is pure, because Allaah has created men with an inclination to be 
    attracted towards women. Hence Allaah has forbidden men to look at women and 
    has commanded them to lower their gaze. Allaah says (interpretation of the 
    meaning): 
“Tell the believing men 
    to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their 
    private parts (from illegal sexual acts)”
[al-Noor 
    24:30]
The Prophet 
     (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The eye may commit 
    zina, and its zina is looking.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Nikaah, 
    1840; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood, no. 
    1884). 
Hence it is haraam to 
    mix with women or to be alone with a woman, even if she is wearing hijaab, 
    so how about if the woman is making a wanton display of herself? There are 
    very many aayahs and ahaadeeth which forbid that. It is also forbidden to 
    shake hands with women; see question no. 2459. 
    A person who allows himself to do these things may start to commit zina zina 
    with her on the grounds of friendship. It cannot be said that this is 
    because of difficult circumstances where he needs a person to stand by him 
    and be his friend. All of that is haraam and is not allowed. Whoever falls 
    into such things must hasten to repent sincerely from this sin, and turn 
    back to Allaah and regret what he has done. The Muslim must realize that if 
    he turns to Allaah for help with the calamities and problems that befall him 
    in this world, Allaah will relieve him of his trouble and grant him relief 
    and a way out, so he should fear Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the 
    meaning):
“And 
    whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him 
    to get out (from every difficulty)”
[al-Talaaq 
    65:2-3]
 “and 
    whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter 
    easy for him”
[al-Talaaq 65:4]
And Allaah knows best.