(143) Chapter: The Excellence of Shaking Hands When Greeting Someone

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When a man meets a brother or a friend, should he bow to him?" He said, "No." The man asked whether he should embrace and kiss him? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "No." He asked whether he should hold his hand and shake it? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, "Yes."

[At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: Here, we are clearly told that when two Muslims meet they are not allowed to bow. Some say the bowing must not come down to the position as assumed in Ruku`. But the Hadith imposes a total ban on it. There is no question of more or less degree of bowing, still less of touching the knees and feet of anybody. Here embracing has been prohibited too, but the prohibition is effective only if the kissing of hands is also involved. Otherwise, some Ahadith allow embracing, particularly on return from a journey or when two persons meet after a long time. Thirdly, the Hadith is absolutely clear on handshake. The question put to the Prophet u was about taking a single hand to which he had replied in the affirmative. There was no reference to taking or using both hands for handshake.