SHAKING HANDS

The people of Yemen called on the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) & introduced for the first time the custom of shaking hands. (Abu Dawood) The Sahabah accepted this custom so extensively that Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) applied perfume in his hands only to shake hands with his friends. (Adaab-ul-Mufrad)

Sayyiduna Bara bin 'Aazib (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "When two Muslims shake hands with each other, they are pardoned of their sins before they separate."  (Ibn-e-Maja)

Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "When a Muslim meets his Muslim brother & shakes hand, their sins fall down like the dry leaves from a tree during a storm & their sins are forgiven even if these are equal to the foams of ocean."  (Tabraani)

Sayyiduna Qatada (radi Allahu anhu) reported: "I asked Anas (radi Allahu anhu), "Was it a custom of the companions of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal lahu alaihi wasallam) to shake hands with one another? & He said, "Yes." (Bukhari)

According to authentic reports, the Beloved Habib (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) never shook hands with any woman who was not his wife or a close relative. Although there is no Hadees, which describes shaking hands with women as forbidden, the Holy Prophet's (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) example should be the one for us to follow. One is highly encouraged to avoid shaking hands with members of the opposite sex.