The Excellence of Shaking Hands When Greeting Someone
باب استحباب المصافحة عند اللقاء وبشاشة الوجه وتقبيل يد الرجل الصالح وتقبيل ولده شفقة ومعانقة القادم من سفر وكراهية الانحناء
This chapter celebrates the warmth that a simple handshake and a cheerful face can carry between believers. The Arabic word is musafahah, the meeting of hands, and the hadith show it as a Sunnah of the Companions that softens hearts and, by Allah's grace, can wipe away sins before two people part.
Greeting in Islam is generous but measured. Watch how the Prophet (peace be upon him) welcomes shaking hands, a bright face, and even an embrace for a returning traveller, while turning away from bowing as a greeting. The closing hadith lift the theme higher: never belittle a small kindness, and mercy shown to the young and weak is the very mercy you hope to receive from Allah.
Hadith 885
Abu Khattab Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن أبي الخطاب قتادة قال: قلت لأنس: أكانت المصافحة في أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ قال: نعم" ((رواه البخاري)).
I asked Anas: "Did the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) use to shake hands?'' He said: "Yes.'' [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
Anas confirmed that the Companions of the Prophet used to shake hands when they met. It establishes handshaking as their familiar practice.
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: لما جاء أهل اليمن قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : “قد جاءكم أهل اليمن، وهم أول من جاء بالمصافحة" ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح)).
When the people of Yemen came, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The people of Yemen have visited you. They are the first to introduce the tradition of handshaking." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
Welcoming the people of Yemen, the Prophet noted they were the first to bring the practice of shaking hands. A warm recognition of this gesture of greeting.
Al-Bara' (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن البراء رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "ما من مسلمين يلتقيان فيتصافحان إلا غفر لهما قبل أن يفترقا" ((رواه أبو داود)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Two Muslims will not meet and shake hands without having their sins forgiven (by Allah ) before they depart." [Abu Dawud].
In plain words
When two Muslims meet and shake hands, their sins are forgiven before they part. It shows the mercy carried in a sincere handshake between believers.
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رجل: يا رسول الله، الرجل منا يلقي أخاه أو صديقه، أينحني له قال: "لا" قال: أفيلتزمه ويقبله؟فال: "لا" قال: فيأخذ بيده ويصافحه؟ قال:"نعم" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).
A man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When a man meets a brother or a friend, should he bow to him?" He said, "No." The man asked whether he should embrace and kiss him? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "No." He asked whether he should hold his hand and shake it? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "Yes." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Asked about bowing, embracing, or kissing as a greeting, the Prophet said no to those, but yes to shaking hands. It marks the handshake as the welcomed form of greeting.
Safwan bin 'Assal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن صفوان بن عسال رضي الله عنه قال: قال يهودي لصاحبه: اذهب بنا إلي هذا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فأتيا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فسألاه عن تسع آيات بينات؛ فذكر الحديث إلي قوله: فقبلا يده ورجله، وقالا: نشهد أنك نبي. ((رواه الترمذي وغيره بأسانيد صحيحة)).
A Jew asked his companion to take him to the Prophet (ﷺ); and when they came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), they asked him about the nine clear signs (given to Prophet Musa). Safwan narrated the long Hadith which concludes: They kissed the hands and feet of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "We testify that you are a Prophet." [At-Tirmidhi]
In plain words
Some visitors questioned the Prophet, then kissed his hands and feet and testified that he was a Prophet. It records their reverence upon recognizing him.
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قدم زيد بن حارثة المدينة ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في بيتي، فأتاه فقرع الباب، فقام إليه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يجر ثوبه، فاعتنقه وقبله" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).
Zaid bin Harithah came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was in my house. Zaid knocked at the door. The Prophet (ﷺ) rose to receive him, trailing his garment. He embraced and kissed him. [At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When Zaid bin Harithah came to the door, the Prophet rose to receive him, embraced him, and kissed him. It shows warmth and affection in welcoming a loved one.
وعن أبي ذر، رضي الله عنه، قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تحقرن من المعروف شيئاً، ولو أن تلقي أخاك بوجه طلق" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, "Do not belittle any good deed, even your meeting with your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face." [Muslim].
In plain words
Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face. A bright, kind expression is itself counted as goodness.
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قبل النبي،صلى الله عليه وسلم الحسن بن على، رضي الله عنهما، فقال الأقرع بن حابس: إن لي عشرة من الولد ما قبلت منهم أحداً. فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من لا يرحم لا يرحم!" ((متفق عليه))
The Prophet (ﷺ) kissed his grandson Hasan bin 'Ali in the presence of Aqra' bin Habis. Thereupon Aqra' remarked: "I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cast a glance upon him and said, "He who does not show mercy to others, will not be shown mercy." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet kissed his grandson, and when a man said he had never kissed any of his ten children, the Prophet warned that whoever shows no mercy will not be shown mercy. It urges tenderness toward children and others.