Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “When Abraham -the friend of the Merciful (a.s) was seeking a pasture for his sheep in Mount Bayt al-Mughadas, he heard a voice. When he looked more carefully he saw a man who was nearly twelve-hand spans (or feet) tall standing in prayer. Abraham said: “O' servant of God! Who are you praying to?” The man said: “To the Lord of the heavens.” Abraham (a.s) asked: “Do you have any relatives?” He said: “No.” Abraham asked: “Then what do you eat?” He said: “I save the fruits of the trees in the summer, and eat them in the winter.” Abraham asked: “Where do you live?” He said: “On the mountain.” Abraham said: “Can I spend the night in your house?” The man said: “There is a hard to cross river on the way which we must cross.” Abraham asked: “How do you cross it?” The man said: “I walk on top of the water.” Abraham said: “Let's go. Maybe God will grant me what He has granted you.” The worshipping man took Abraham's hand, and went to the river, and both walked on top of that river and crossed it. Then they both went to his house. Abraham asked the man: “Which day is the greatest day?” He said: “That on which the people get closer to each other.” Abraham said: “Do you want us both to raise our hands in prayer for God to protect us from the evils of that day?” He said: “What do you have to do with my praying? I swear by God that I have been praying for three years now but God does not fulfill my prayers.” Abraham said: “Do you want me to tell you why your prayers are not answered?” He said: “Yes.” Abraham said: “God does not fulfill the prayers of one who prays and whom God loves so that he continues to pray and ask Him for what he needs. But when God does not like someone, He will immediately fulfill his needs so he does not pray again, or He makes him give up all hope in praying.” Then Abraham asked him what he had asked for. He said: “A young fellow passed by here with some sheep. I asked him who owned the sheep. He said “They belong to Abraham, the friend of the Merciful.” Then he said: “I prayed to God to show me His friend on the Earth if He has any.” Abraham said: “Your prayer has been responded to since I am Abraham, the friend of the Merciful.” Then he hugged him. Hugging became a tradition from this time on. Shaking hands became a tradition after the Prophet Muhammad's appointment.”