Ways of The Prophet (S.A.W)

Shaking / kissing hands and embracing

Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated that a man asked the Messenger of ALLAH (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), “When a man meets his brother or his friend should he bow to him?” He replied, “NO.” He asked whether he should embrace and kiss him, and he replied “NO.” He asked whether he should take his hand and shake it, and he replied. “Yes.” Zareen has added, except that the person had come from a long distance (then he could umbrae him –[Mishkat]) and could kiss a person’s hand to show reverence to him. [Targhib -Wa- Tarhib]

Hadrat Abu Umamah (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated ALLAH’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) as saying, “The perfect way for one of you to visit an invalid is for him to put his hand on this forehead or on his hand and ask him how he is. The perfect way for you to greet one another is to shake hands." [Mishkat]

Hadrat Zari’ (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) who was a member of the deputation of Abd al-Qais narrated that when they came to Madinah they raced to be first to dismount and kiss ALLAH’s Messenger’s hand and foot. [Abu Dawud]

Ash Sha’bi told that when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) met Jafar bin Abu Talib he embraced him and kissed between his two eyes. [Abu Dawud]

Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) one day narrated with great fondness and delight. “I shook these hands of mine with those of the Messenger of ALLAH. No kind of silk I ever touched was softer than his hands. His pupil to whom Hadrat Anas related this said with the some enthnsiam that he worth like to shake the hands that shook the Holy Prophet’s hands (Since then the practice has continued without a break.) [Khasail-e-Nabawi]

Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated that whenever the Prophet’s companions met one another they used to shake hands and on returning from a journey they used to embrace one another. [Tabarani, Al-Targhib Waat-Tarhib]

When Hadrat Zaid bin Harisa (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) came to Madinah, he came to the house of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) and knocked at the door. The Prophet came out trailing his garment, embraced him and kissed him on the forehead. [Tirmizi]