42/31. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2728 — Handshake Without Bowing
What Has Been Related About Hand Shaking
Hadith on Handshake and Greeting Manners
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2728
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2728
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَنْظَلَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا يَلْقَى أَخَاهُ أَوْ صَدِيقَهُ أَيَنْحَنِي لَهُ قَالَ " لاَ " . قَالَ أَفَيَلْتَزِمُهُ وَيُقَبِّلُهُ قَالَ " لاَ " . قَالَ أَفَيَأْخُذُ بِيَدِهِ وَيُصَافِحُهُ قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A Man Said: "O Messenger Of Allah! When A Man Among Us Meets His Brother Or His Friend Should He Bow To Him?" He Said: "No." The Man Continued: "Should He Embrace Him And Kiss Him?" He Said: "No." He Said: "Should He Take His Hand And Shake It?" He Said: "Yes."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2728In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 41English translation : Vol. 5, Book 40, Hadith 2728
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2728
This Hadith answers a direct question about how a Muslim should greet a brother or friend. A man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم whether he should bow. The Prophet said no. He asked whether he should embrace and kiss him. The Prophet said no. Then he asked whether he should take his hand and shake it. The Prophet said yes. This Hadith about handshake in Islam gives a clear balance in normal greeting manners. It points to a respectful greeting without bowing and without making embraces or kisses the regular response in this case. The answer is short, but it gives a practical rule for everyday Muslim meetings.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bowing was not approved as the greeting in this narration.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم approved taking the hand and shaking it.
- The Hadith gives a simple guide for greeting a brother or friend.
- Normal greeting manners should follow what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught.
