The Bid'ah of shaking hands after Salah
Question:
"More than four years ago, it was the custom of a Turkish Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) to stand in the Mihrab after each obligatory Salah and greet the persons he led in Salah. The first one comes to shake hands with him and then stands beside him. The second one does the same and stands beside the first one. All the persons, whatever the number of those who were led in Salah do so in sequence, imitating the Turkish Imam. The Arab Imam, after finishing Fajr (Dawn) Prayer, shakes hands with the worshippers as well. We advised him not to do this, but he does not respond. Please enlighten us."
Answer:
"The regular practice of shaking hands after finishing the obligatory Salah is a Bid`ah (an innovation in religion), whether it is done between the Imam and the Ma'mums (persons being led by him) or among the Ma'mums themselves. This act is baseless and should be abandoned, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
"Anyone who does an action which is not stated in this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected."[1]
Neither the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor any of the Rightly-guided Caliphs are reported to have practiced such a custom. The best line of conduct to follow is that of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the worst of affairs are matters newly innovated in Islam, as every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance."
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on judicial decisions, no. 1718; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 180.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Source: www.alifta.net - Group 2, Volume 2: 'Aqidah, Bid'ah, The Bidah of shaking hands after Salah. The sixth question of Fatwa no. 16843.
"More than four years ago, it was the custom of a Turkish Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) to stand in the Mihrab after each obligatory Salah and greet the persons he led in Salah. The first one comes to shake hands with him and then stands beside him. The second one does the same and stands beside the first one. All the persons, whatever the number of those who were led in Salah do so in sequence, imitating the Turkish Imam. The Arab Imam, after finishing Fajr (Dawn) Prayer, shakes hands with the worshippers as well. We advised him not to do this, but he does not respond. Please enlighten us."
Answer:
"The regular practice of shaking hands after finishing the obligatory Salah is a Bid`ah (an innovation in religion), whether it is done between the Imam and the Ma'mums (persons being led by him) or among the Ma'mums themselves. This act is baseless and should be abandoned, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
"Anyone who does an action which is not stated in this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected."[1]
Neither the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor any of the Rightly-guided Caliphs are reported to have practiced such a custom. The best line of conduct to follow is that of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the worst of affairs are matters newly innovated in Islam, as every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance."
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on judicial decisions, no. 1718; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 180.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Source: www.alifta.net - Group 2, Volume 2: 'Aqidah, Bid'ah, The Bidah of shaking hands after Salah. The sixth question of Fatwa no. 16843.