Shaking Hands after the End of Every Obligatory Prayer

Shaking Hands after the End of Every Obligatory Prayer

AUTHOR:	Shaikh ‘Abdus-Salaam bin Barjiss
SOURCE:	Al-I’laam ‘an ba’adi Ahkaam-is-Salaam (pg. 36-37)
PRODUCED BY:	Al-Ibaanah.com

Shaking Hands after the End of Every Obligatory Prayer:

Many people ask on the ruling of what some people do nowadays, such as the shaking of hands between those next to each other – on the right and left – after finishing from performing the prayer.

Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, answered this type of question when he said: “Shaking hands after prayer is not prescribed in the Sunnah. Rather, it is an innovation, and Allaah knows best.” [Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa: 23/339]

And how beautiful is what Ibn-ul-Haaj, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, whilst advising the student of knowledge:

“And he should refrain from what they have introduced from shaking hands after the Morning Prayer, the ‘Asr Prayer and the Jumu’ah Prayer. In fact, some of them in these times have even gone so far as to do this after all of the five daily prayers! And all of this is from innovations.

The proper place for shaking hands, according to the Religion, is only at the time when a Muslim encounters his brother, not after the five daily prayers. All of this is from innovations. Wherever the Religion has placed it (i.e. the act of shaking hands), we too should place it. Therefore, this act (of shaking hands after prayer) should be avoided and the one who does it should be reprimanded for what he has brought forth from opposition to the Sunnah.” [Al-Madkhal: 2/223]

The great scholar, Ibn Hajr Al-Haytamee said: “What people do from shaking hands directly after the five daily prayers is detested (makrooh). It has no basis in the Religion.”

Some scholars have also indicated that shaking hands after prayer is from the ways of the Rawaafid, may Allaah debase them. [See As-Si’aayah (pg. 264) of the great scholar Al-Luknawee]

O Muslim, after having heard the words of the scholars on this aspect of shaking hands (after every prayer), you have no choice except but to abandon it, detest it and instruct the people to forsake it, out of caution from falling into innovations, which violate an individual’s religion and detract from his deeds.

And you must know that these scholars’ ruling this act of shaking hands (after prayer) to be an innovation is based on the premise that it is an act of worship that was introduced after the time of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the first three generations (of Muslims, i.e. the Salaf). The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever does a deed that is not in conformity with our affair (i.e. Sunnah), he is rejected.”

And you will surely be amazed at how innovations cling tightly onto the hearts of those who were raised upon it to the point that they become like armor for these innovations, protecting it from harm and destruction, whereas Ahlus-Sunnah suffer weakness and humiliation for the sake of defending and reviving the acts of the Sunnah and refuting and showing sternness against those who oppose it.

Don’t you see this innovation and how the people guard it, believing it to be an act of nearness to Allaah? This is such that if a person were to give the slightest hint that he dislikes such an act, the people will call out to him from every direction accusing him of having brought a new religion!! And all of this came about due to the scholars’ laxity in waging war against innovations – even though they be small – and due to their leniency in implementing the Sunnah – even though it may cause divisions. So verily, to Allaah we belong and to Him we will return. And Allaah is sufficient for us and the best of guardians.

Published: January 27, 2006