Sunnahs and etiquettes of musafahah (shaking hands) and mu’anaqah (embracing)

Dear Islamic brothers, let us gain the blessings of hearing some points about shaking hands and embracing. Firstly, note two sayings of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.   “Shake hands with each other; hatred leaves the heart due to this. Exchange gifts with one another, there will be love between you and enmity will dissipate.”^[1]

2.   When two friends meet each other, then shake hands and send salat upon the blessed Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, their previous and future sins are forgiven before they separate.^[2]

*   Shake hands using both hands.^[3]

*   However many times you meet, it is mustahabb to shake hands each time.^[4]

*   Shake hands when you depart also. Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali al-A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states, “I have not found a clear statement expressing this to be a Sunnah, but the original permissibility of shaking hands is established from Hadith, so this will also be deemed permissible.”^[5]

*   Merely touching the fingers is not shaking hands. The Sunnah is that both hands should be used in shaking hands.^[6]