Shaking hands with each other

Question:-

I recently heard that if you see someone after many months, then only should you greet them by shaking hands with them, otherwise not, as this was the way in the time of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum. If you see a person weekly, or more often, then is it sunnah to greet with the hands, or only verbally?

Answer:-

To greet and make Musaafahah (shake hands with each other) is established from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. In fact, Hadrat Abu Zarr Radiallahu Anhu was asked, “Would Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam shake hands with you (the Sahaabah) when you met him?” He replied, “Every time I met him, he shook hands with me.”

عن رجلٍ من عَنَزة أنه قال لأبي ذَرٍّ ٌرَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ هل كان رسولُ الله صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّمَ يُصَافِحُكُم إذا لقيتُموه؟ قال: ما لقيتُهُ قطُّ إلا صَافَحَنِي…

(سنن ابي داؤد 5214)

Further, it is written in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah that the objective of Musaafahah is to express one’s love and affection for the other party. [Re-: Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol.28 Page.208] However, one should not be persistent on making Musaafahah, in the sense that, it is regarded as necessary and obligatory every time one meets another.

In conclusion, it will be permissible to shake hands when meeting another, irrespective of whether he is meeting the individual after a short period of time or after a lengthy duration. However, it should not be regarded as compulsory.

 ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 08 Shabaan 1444 / 01 March 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai