Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
Shaking hands (musafaha) at the time of meeting is recommended and a Sunnah. Through it, sins are forgiven. Among the people of Madinah, it was not widely practiced. When the people of Yemen embraced Islam, along with greeting verbally (salam), they also popularized this practice, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) approved of their action. Therefore, one should make a point of shaking hands at the time of meeting; however, greeting with the tongue (saying salam) is also necessary. When the Companions (radi Allahu anhum) of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) met each other, they would shake hands, and when they returned from a journey, they would embrace (mu‘anaqah).