Greeting with Handshake

“’Ubaydah has said, ‘Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey. During the journey, first I would take my seat in the carriage set up on the back of the carry animal and then he would take his seat. He after settling down on his place properly would offer me the greeting of peace and ask a question like a person who has never met the other person. He would also shake hands. ’ The narrator has said, ‘He after dismounting would do so before me and after finding our places on the ground he would offer the greeting of peace and ask questions like he had never met me.’ 1 then said, ‘O descendent of the Messenger of Allah, you do things that no one before us has done. Doing (such formalities) only once is more than enough.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you know what is in a handshake? The believers meet and shake hands, the sins continue falling off of them just like leaves fall off the trees, and Allah looks upon them until they depart from each other.’”

"When the believing people meet and shake hands Allah inserts His hand between their hands and shakes hands with the one whose love for his brother (in belief) is more intense.’”

‘When two believing people meet and shake hands Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inserts His hand between their hands and faces the one whose love for his brother (in belief) is more intense. When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, turns His face to them their sins begin to fall like leaves from trees.’”

‘‘When two believing people meet and shake hands Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, turns His face (direction, aspect) to them and sins began to fall from them like leaves fall from trees.’”

“Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey on one side of the carriage on the camel from Madina to Makka. On the way he dismounted for rest and, when he returned, he asked me for a handshake. He squeezed my hand so hard that my fingers began to hurt. He then said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, when two Muslims meet, shake hands and crisscross their fingers, their sins begin to fall from them like leaves fall from trees on a fall day.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) once said to me, ‘O Malik, you are of our followers (Shi’a). Are you aware that you go to extremes in our cause? No one is able to describe Allah. Just as no one is able to describe Allah, no one is able to describe us. Just as no one is able to describe us, no one is able to describe the believer. When a believer meets the believer and shakes hands, Allah continues looking at them and sins fall from their faces like leaves fall from trees until they depart each other. How then is one able to describe one who is as such?’”

“Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey. On the way we unloaded our luggage and he walked a little and came back, held my hand and squeezed it hard. I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘Was I not with you in the carriage?’ The Imam asked, ‘Did you not know that when the believer comes around, and holds the hand of his brother (in belief), Allah faces them and looks at them. He continues facing them and says to the sins to fall off of them and they began to fall, O abu Hamza, like leaves that fall from trees. They then depart and there no sins will be left on them.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘How often is this handshake?’ The Imam said, ‘It is just after going around a palm tree.’”

“It is a good idea for the believers to shake each other’s hands after one of them remains out of sight, even because of a tree in between.”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whenever any of you meets his Muslim brother (in belief) he should offer him the greeting of peace and shake his hand; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has honored the angels with it and you should also do what the angels do.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whenever you meet, you should do so by offering the greeting of peace and shaking hands and depart each other with a plea to Allah for forgiveness.’”

“During an armed expedition the Muslims, along with the Messenger of Allah, each time after passing through a wooded area on reaching the open would look at each other and shake hands.”

“When two people shake hands, the one who continues holding his hand will receive greater reward than the one who releases early. However, the sins fall off of them until no sins remain.”

“Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he looked at me frowning. I asked, ‘May I know how I have disappointed you?’ The Imam said, ‘It is that which has changed you toward your brothers (in belief). It has come to my notice, O Ishaq, that you have appointed someone at your door to drive away the poor people of the Shi’a (our followers).’ 1 then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I was afraid of publicity.’ The Imam asked, ‘Why did you not fear misfortune? Did you not know that when two believing people meet and shake each other’s hands Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sends blessings upon them and ninety-nine parts of the reward go to the one who loves his believing brother (in belief) more intensely. If they love equally blessings (of Allah) encompass them both? When they sit to speak to each other the guardian angels will say to each other, ‘Leave them alone, perhaps they have certain secret matters to discuss, and Allah has provided cover for them.’ I then said, ‘Has Allah not said, ‘. . . since the two scribes are sitting on each of his shoulders, he does not utter a word that is not recorded immediately by the watchful scribes.’ (50:17) The Imam said, ‘O Ishaq, if the scribes do not hear, the One who know all secrets hears and sees.’”

“When shaking hands with people, the Messenger of Allah had never been the first to discontinue the handshake.”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, cannot be described and how can He be described when He says in His book, “They have not revered (honored and respected) Allah properly. . . .” (22:74) He cannot be described through measurement. He is greater than such measures of respect. The Holy Prophet cannot be described and respected. How can a servant (of Allah) be described whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has veiled with seven things (no explanation for this seven is available). He has made obedience to him on earth like the obedience to His own self in heavens saying, ‘Take only what the Messenger gives to you and desist from what he forbids you,’ (59:7) whoever obeys him has obeyed Me and whoever disobeys him has disobeyed Me. He (Allah) made him to be the in charge person of the affairs. We also cannot be described and how can a people be described from whom Allah has removed all rijs (uncleanness), which, applies to doubt (doubt is uncleanness). The believing people also cannot be described. When the believer meets his brother (in belief) and they shake hands Allah continues looking at them and the sins fall from their faces like leaves fall off trees.’”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘When two believing people meet and shake hands, Allah turns to them with His face and sins began to fall from their faces until they depart from each other.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do shake hands, it removes jealousy.”

“The Holy Prophet once met Hudhayfah and he extended his hand, but Hudhayfah held his hand back. The Holy Prophet asked, ‘How is it, O Hudhayfah, that I extended my hand to you and you held your hand back?’ Hudhayfah then said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, your hand is attractive but I am in a state of ritual impurity (Janaba) and I did not like to touch your hand with my hand that is not formally cleansed.’ The Holy Prophet then said, ‘Did you not know that when the Muslims meet and shake hands, their sins fall from them like leaves from trees?”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘No one is able to describe Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, as He should be described. In the same way His Holy Prophet cannot be described. Also, the importance of the believing people cannot be described. When he meets his brother (in belief) and shakes hands, Allah looks toward them and sins began to fall from their faces like strong wind blows away leaves from trees, until they depart each other.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A handshake of believing people is better than a handshake of angels.’”