Is shaking hands after Salah Bidah according to Hanafi scholars?

Quran

Hadith

Islamic Text

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Hanafi scholars have differed over the issue of shaking hands after prayer. Some have said it is fine as it is a general Sunnah. Others have warned against it, since it is not a specific Sunnah and people may hold false beliefs regarding it. Imam Ibn Abideen did cite some scholars who considered it Bidah.

Explanation
عَائِشَةُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ

(Sayidah) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever performs an action, which is not upon our way, will have it rejected.’ (Sahih Muslim, 1718 – 18).

 

The Hadith above is just one of numerous references to Bidah (religious innovation) in the Sunnah. The Quran and Hadith repeatedly warn against Bidah. Therefore, the Muslim must be vigilant regarding it, without going to extremes. As for shaking hands after prayer, this is not an unequivocal Bidah. Since shaking hands is established in the Sunnah. But it is not specified after Salah.

Given that the issue of shaking hands after prayer being a Bidah or not is speculative, the scholars have differed over it. Some Hanafi scholars have raised concerns regarding it. Whilst others deem it permitted or even recommended.

Difference of opinion
الشَّمْسِ الْحَانُوتِيِّ، وَأَنَّهُ أَفْتَى بِهِ مُسْتَدِلًّا بِعُمُومِ النُّصُوصِ الْوَارِدَةِ فِي مَشْرُوعِيَّتِهَا وَهُوَ الْمُوَافِقُ لِمَا ذَكَرَهُ الشَّارِحُ مِنْ إطْلَاقِ الْمُتُونِ، لَكِنْ قَدْ يُقَالُ إنَّ الْمُوَاظَبَةَ عَلَيْهَا بَعْدَ الصَّلَوَاتِ خَاصَّةً قَدْ يُؤَدِّي الْجَهَلَةِ إلَى اعْتِقَادِ سُنِّيَّتِهَا فِي خُصُوصِ هَذِهِ الْمَوَاضِعِ وَأَنَّ لَهَا خُصُوصِيَّةً زَائِدَةً عَلَى غَيْرِهَا مَعَ أَنَّ ظَاهِرَ كَلَامِهِمْ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَفْعَلْهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ السَّلَفِ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَوَاضِعِ، وَكَذَا قَالُوا بِسُنِّيَّةِ قِرَاءَةِ السُّوَرِ الثَّلَاثَةِ فِي الْوَتْرِ مَعَ التَّرْكِ أَحْيَانَا لِئَلَّا يُعْتَقَدَ وُجُوبُهَا. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

Al-Shams al-Hanouti issued a Fatwah allowing it based on the generality of the texts permitting it. That is in agreement with what the commentator mentioned regarding the generality of the legal texts (Mutoon). However, it may be contested  that performing it regularly after prayers may lead the ignorant to believe that it is Sunnah in these specific situations. And that it has a uniqueness over others. Whereas, what they say appears to accept none of the Salaf did it in these situations. It is similar to what they said regarding reciting the three Surahs in Witr prayer, whilst leaving them at times. So that they are not believed to be obligatory. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

 

صَرَّحَ بَعْضُ عُلَمَائِنَا وَغَيْرُهُمْ بِكَرَاهَةِ الْمُصَافَحَةِ الْمُعْتَادَةِ عَقِبَ الصَّلَوَاتِ مَعَ أَنَّ الْمُصَافَحَةَ سُنَّةٌ، وَمَا ذَاكَ إلَّا لِكَوْنِهَا لَمْ تُؤْثَرْ فِي خُصُوصِ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ، فَالْمُوَاظَبَةُ عَلَيْهَا فِيهِ تُوهِمُ الْعَوَّامَ بِأَنَّهَا سُنَّةٌ فِيهِ، وَلِذَا مَنَعُوا عَنْ الِاجْتِمَاعِ لِصَلَاةِ الرَّغَائِبِ الَّتِي أَحْدَثَهَا بَعْضُ الْمُتَعَبِّدِينَ لِأَنَّهَا لَمْ تُؤْثَرْ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْكَيْفِيَّةِ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيَالِي الْمَخْصُوصَةِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ الصَّلَاةُ خَيْرَ مَوْضُوعٍ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

Some of our scholars and others have stated that it is disliked to shake hands after prayers, even though shaking hands is Sunnah. This is only because it has not be narrated for this specific situation. The regular practice of it makes the generality of people think that it is a Sunnah there.

That is why they were prevented from meeting to pray Salatu al-Raghaaib. Which was introduced by some of the worshipers. Because it was not narrated in that manner on those specific nights. Despite the fact that prayer is generally good. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

As we have seen in the Nusoos (texts) above, Hanafi scholars differed over the issue of shaking hands after prayer. Some considered it acceptable due to the general permissibility of shaking hands. Others considered it Makruh (disliked) due to the likelihood of uneducated Muslims considering it to be a specific Sunnah after Salah.

Another concern raised by those Hanafi scholars who opposed the shaking of hands after Salah is that the Sahabah did not practice it. Others mentioned the Salaf too. Meaning, neither the Sahbah nor others from the Salaf had this practice after prayer.

The Sahabah and the Salaf
وَنَقَلَ فِي تَبْيِينِ الْمَحَارِمِ عَنْ الْمُلْتَقَطِ أَنَّهُ تُكْرَهُ الْمُصَافَحَةُ بَعْدَ أَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ بِكُلِّ حَالٍ، لِأَنَّ الصَّحَابَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمْ – مَا صَافَحُوا بَعْدَ أَدَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَلِأَنَّهَا مِنْ سُنَنِ الرَّوَافِضِ اهـ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

He narrated Tabyeen al-Mahaarim from al-Multaqat that it is disliked to shake hands after performing the prayer irrespective of the situation. This is because the Sahabah (may Allah Almighty be pleased with them) did not shake hands after performing the prayer. And because it is one of the Sunnahs of the Shia. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

 

ابْنِ حَجَرٍ عَنْ الشَّافِعِيَّةِ أَنَّهَا بِدْعَةٌ مَكْرُوهَةٌ لَا أَصْلَ لَهَا فِي الشَّرْعِ، وَأَنَّهُ يُنَبَّهُ فَاعِلُهَا أَوَّلًا وَيُعَزَّرُ ثَانِيًا ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْحَاجِّ مِنْ الْمَالِكِيَّةِ فِي الْمَدْخَلِ إنَّهَا مِنْ الْبِدَعِ، وَمَوْضِعُ الْمُصَافَحَةِ فِي الشَّرْعِ، إنَّمَا هُوَ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ الْمُسْلِمِ لِأَخِيهِ لَا فِي أَدْبَارِ الصَّلَوَاتِ فَحَيْثُ وَضَعَهَا الشَّرْعُ يَضَعُهَا فَيُنْهَى عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَيُزْجَرُ فَاعِلُهُ لِمَا أَتَى بِهِ مِنْ خِلَافِ السُّنَّةِ اهـ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

Ibn Hajar narrated from Shafis that it is a detestable innovation that has no basis in Shariah. The one who does it should be warned first and then punished thereafter. Ibn al-Hajj of the Malikis said in al-Madkhal that it is an innovation. And the place of shaking hands in the Shariah is when a Muslim meets his brother, not at the end of the prayers. So where the Shariah placed it, he must place it. Thus, he is forbidden from that and the one who does it is rebuked due to his contradicting the Sunnah. (Imam Ibn Abideen 1252H, Radd al-Muhtaar).

A good Bidah?

Some people have an automatic, unconsidered response whenever they hear that something is a Bidah. They reflexively respond with it being a good Bidah. Although the concept of a good Bidah does exist in the Sunni tradition, it is usually explicitly mentioned. Therefore, when Bidah is mentioned in an unqualified manner, it tends to refer to a problematic innovation.

This is certainly the case regarding the issue of shaking hands after prayer. Since scholars who labelled it Bidah or alluded to it spoke about it negatively. If it were a good Bidah then they would speak about it positively.

Resolution

As seen above, there is some difference of opinion regarding the issue of shaking hands after Salah. However, even those who adhere to the opinion that deems it a problem can easily overcome the concerns. Firstly, Imams can clarify to the congregation that the Sunnah of shaking hands is generic and not specified for the prayer. This, done correctly, should deal with the issue of people adopting unsubstantiated beliefs.

Secondly, if the practice is carried out in a less ritualistic manner, then it should alleviate other concerns of it being a Bidah. Generally, the more ritualistic an action is, the greater the scrutiny will be. Since religious rituals are more of a concern when it comes to religious innovation.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (24.07.2024)