Makruh Tanzeehi, and Salah is Khilaf-e-Aula at most. It is stated in Sahih al-Bukhari: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ once asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! My sarong drags unless I pay special attention to it.’ He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, لَسْتَ مِمَّن یَّصْنَعَھُ خُیَلٓاء, i.e. ‘You are not from among those who do this out of pride.’ (Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 45, Hadith 5784)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Sunnahs and etiquettes of shaking hands and embracing

Dear Islamic brothers! Let us hear some points regarding shaking hands and embracing. Let us first listen to two sayings of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1.   ‘Shake hands with one another; it will remove hatred, and send gifts; it will cause love between you and remove animosity.’ (Mishkat Al-Masabih, vol. 2, p. 171, Hadith 4693)

2.   ‘When two friends meet, shake hands, and recite Salat upon the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the past and future sins of both of them are forgiven before they separate.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 6, p. 471, Hadith 8944)

*   Use both hands to shake hands. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 16, p. 98)

*   It is Mustahab to shake hands regardless of how many times you meet someone. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 16, p. 97)

*   Shake hands at the time of leaving too. Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, Badr-ut-Tareeqah, Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes, ‘The explicitly of this being a Sunnah has not crossed the gaze of this humble servant, however, the source of shaking hands being permissible is found in the Hadith, thus, this would be considered permissible too.’ (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 16, p. 98)