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?

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani · Accepted 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.”

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.

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