Taken from the book “Aḥkām wa Masā’il Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshnī Mein” by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
What is the ruling on greeting (Salām) with a hand gesture only?
For example, in government offices, people often salute their officers with just a hand gesture, without uttering any verbal salutation. Is this not a practice from among the Jews and Christians? Kindly explain with evidence.
During meetings or encounters, we are commanded to greet each other with Salām, as it increases mutual love and affection. Additionally, shaking hands (muṣāfaḥah) along with greeting is a Sunnah.
❖ ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Worship the Most Merciful, feed the needy, and spread Salām—then you will enter Paradise in peace."
(والأدب المفرد، باب إفشاء السلام 1010)
❖ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not guide you to something which, if you do it, you will love one another?"
They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!"
He said: "Spread Salām among yourselves."
(الأدب المفرد، باب إفشاء السلام 1009 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, ḥadīth 54)
These aḥādīth clearly show that verbal greeting of Salām is to be made widespread, as it is a cause of mutual love. However:
Greeting with hand gestures only is not permissible. This is an act imitating the Jews and Christians, and we are forbidden from such imitation. The saluting style practiced in some departments is a form of their imitation, and it is impermissible for Muslim leaders and the general public.
❖ Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not greet like the Jews and Christians. Indeed, their greeting is done by waving hands, heads, and through gestures."
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā li al-Nasā’ī 2/92 | al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 4/1388, ḥadīth 1783)
This narration is further supported (shāhid) by a narration from ʿAmr bin Shuʿayb from his father, from his grandfather, recorded in al-Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ (7376, vol. 8, pp. 285, 383).
Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله declared its chain as strong (jayyid) in Fatḥ al-Bārī (11/19).
Due to various supporting chains, this ḥadīth is ḥasan and is also found in al-Tirmidhī (2695).
ʿAṭā’ bin Abī Rabāḥ رحمه الله said:
"The Salaf disliked greeting with the hand."
Hence, it is evident that the prescribed and recommended way of greeting is to utter the words of Salām, not to merely wave a hand, nod the head, or gesture with the palm. These are customs of the Jews and Christians, and the righteous predecessors disliked them.
There are two exceptions where gestural salām is permissible:
① During Ṣalāh (Prayer)
If someone greets you during prayer, responding with a gesture is allowed.
② If the person greeting is distant
If someone is far away such that their Salām cannot be heard, then it is permissible to combine the hand gesture with verbal Salām.
Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله said:
"Gesturing with the hand as a form of Salām is an exception during prayer, as there are authentic narrations where the Prophet ﷺ responded to salām during prayer with gestures.
Among them is the ḥadīth of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه, in which a man greeted the Prophet ﷺ while he was in prayer, and he responded by gesturing.
Also, the ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh bin Masʿūd رضي الله عنه supports this.
Likewise, for someone who is far away and cannot hear the verbal Salām, it is permissible to gesture with the hand while also saying the words of Salām."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 11/19)
✿ Salām should be verbal and audible, accompanied by Sunnah actions like handshake if possible.
✿ Merely gesturing with the hand, nodding, or saluting without words is impermissible, as it is imitation of non-Muslims and was disliked by the Salaf.
✿ During Ṣalāh or when greeting someone far away, gestural response is permissible with conditions.
✦ Question:
What is the ruling on greeting (Salām) with a hand gesture only?
For example, in government offices, people often salute their officers with just a hand gesture, without uttering any verbal salutation. Is this not a practice from among the Jews and Christians? Kindly explain with evidence.
✦ Answer:
During meetings or encounters, we are commanded to greet each other with Salām, as it increases mutual love and affection. Additionally, shaking hands (muṣāfaḥah) along with greeting is a Sunnah.
✦ The Command to Spread Salām
❖ ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Worship the Most Merciful, feed the needy, and spread Salām—then you will enter Paradise in peace."
(والأدب المفرد، باب إفشاء السلام 1010)
❖ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not guide you to something which, if you do it, you will love one another?"
They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!"
He said: "Spread Salām among yourselves."
(الأدب المفرد، باب إفشاء السلام 1009 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, ḥadīth 54)
These aḥādīth clearly show that verbal greeting of Salām is to be made widespread, as it is a cause of mutual love. However:
❖ Ruling on Greeting with Only Hand Gestures
Greeting with hand gestures only is not permissible. This is an act imitating the Jews and Christians, and we are forbidden from such imitation. The saluting style practiced in some departments is a form of their imitation, and it is impermissible for Muslim leaders and the general public.
✦ Prohibition from Gestural Salām
❖ Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Do not greet like the Jews and Christians. Indeed, their greeting is done by waving hands, heads, and through gestures."
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā li al-Nasā’ī 2/92 | al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah 4/1388, ḥadīth 1783)
This narration is further supported (shāhid) by a narration from ʿAmr bin Shuʿayb from his father, from his grandfather, recorded in al-Ṭabarānī al-Awsaṭ (7376, vol. 8, pp. 285, 383).
Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله declared its chain as strong (jayyid) in Fatḥ al-Bārī (11/19).
Due to various supporting chains, this ḥadīth is ḥasan and is also found in al-Tirmidhī (2695).
✦ Statement of a Tabiʿī:
ʿAṭā’ bin Abī Rabāḥ رحمه الله said:
"The Salaf disliked greeting with the hand."
Hence, it is evident that the prescribed and recommended way of greeting is to utter the words of Salām, not to merely wave a hand, nod the head, or gesture with the palm. These are customs of the Jews and Christians, and the righteous predecessors disliked them.
❖ Exceptions to the Rule:
There are two exceptions where gestural salām is permissible:
① During Ṣalāh (Prayer)
If someone greets you during prayer, responding with a gesture is allowed.
② If the person greeting is distant
If someone is far away such that their Salām cannot be heard, then it is permissible to combine the hand gesture with verbal Salām.
✦ Explanation by Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله
Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله said:
"Gesturing with the hand as a form of Salām is an exception during prayer, as there are authentic narrations where the Prophet ﷺ responded to salām during prayer with gestures.
Among them is the ḥadīth of Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه, in which a man greeted the Prophet ﷺ while he was in prayer, and he responded by gesturing.
Also, the ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh bin Masʿūd رضي الله عنه supports this.
Likewise, for someone who is far away and cannot hear the verbal Salām, it is permissible to gesture with the hand while also saying the words of Salām."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 11/19)
Conclusion
✿ Salām should be verbal and audible, accompanied by Sunnah actions like handshake if possible.
✿ Merely gesturing with the hand, nodding, or saluting without words is impermissible, as it is imitation of non-Muslims and was disliked by the Salaf.
✿ During Ṣalāh or when greeting someone far away, gestural response is permissible with conditions.
