Shaking Hands After Salah Is an Innovation (Bidʿah)

Based on the Work of Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (حفظه الله)
Structured for Clarity and Scholarly Precision

❖ Divine Completion of the Religion​

Allah says:
"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion."
Sūrah al-Mā’idah (5:3)

This verse was revealed during the Farewell Hajj, announcing the completion of the religion. Any addition after this declaration is not accepted by Allah and is classified as innovation (bidʿah).

❖ Understanding Bidʿah​

Many verbally claim that the religion is complete, yet practically introduce new practices into Islam. They may label their innovations as “bidʿah ḥasanah” or argue they don’t contradict Sharīʿah, but such unauthorized additions are firmly rejected by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah.

❖ Imām Mālik رحمه الله​

"Whoever innovates something in Islam which the Salaf did not practice, he is implying that the Prophet ﷺ betrayed his mission. What wasn’t part of religion then, is not religion now."
Al-Iḥkām fī Uṣūl al-Aḥkām: 6/85 – Chain is ḥasan

❖ The Innovator’s Error​

Imām al-Shāṭibī رحمه الله states:
"The innovator defies Sharīʿah by inventing new ways of worship. Even if he doesn’t claim superiority over divine law, his action is clear misguidance."
Al-Iʿtiṣām: 1/65

❖ Post-Prayer Handshakes – A Clear Bidʿah​

While shaking hands is a Sunnah at the time of meeting, it was never prescribed after prayers, particularly Fajr and ʿAṣr. The Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, and the Salaf never practiced this, and thus it is an invalid innovation.

❖ Prophetic Statement​

"Every prophet before me was required to guide his nation towards what he knew was best and warn against what was harmful."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1844

❖ Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī رحمه الله​

"Any act done seeking closeness to Allah, which He and His Messenger ﷺ did not prescribe, is null and void."
Jāmiʿ al-ʿUlūm wa’l-Ḥikam: 1/178

❖ Scholarly Consensus Against the Practice​

• Imām Nawawī رحمه الله leaned toward its permissibility, but Ibn Ḥajar and others refuted this by showing its lack of Sharʿī basis.
  Fatḥ al-Bārī: 11/55
• Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī رحمه الله:
  "Post-prayer handshakes are not legislated. They are bidʿah, as shaking hands is meant for initial meeting, not after prayer."
  Mirqāt al-Mafātīḥ: 8/458
• ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām رحمه الله:
  "Post-Fajr and ʿAṣr handshakes are bidʿah, except for one who had not met the other before prayer."
  Fatāwā ʿIzz ibn ʿAbd al-Salām: 389
• Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله:
  "Shaking hands after salah is an innovation."
  Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 23/339
• Ibn al-Ḥājj رحمه الله:
  "It is a bidʿah to shake hands after Fajr, ʿAṣr, or Jumuʿah prayers."
  Al-Madkhal: 2/223
• Ibn ʿĀbidīn al-Ḥanafī رحمه الله:
  "It is makrūh to shake hands after prayer, as the Companions never did so."
  Radd al-Muḥtār: 6/381
• ʿAbd al-Ḥayy al-Lakhnawī رحمه الله:
  "In our times, this practice has become a widespread bidʿah and should be abandoned."
  Al-Siʿāyah: 264

❖ Conclusion​

Shaking hands after prayers is a reprehensible innovation not supported by any authentic evidence. We ask Allah to protect us from innovations and grant us the ability to follow the Sunnah in all aspects of worship. Āmīn.