Sayyiduna Baraa bin ‘Aazib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “No two Muslims meet each other and (after greeting one another with salaam, they) make musaafahah (i.e. shake hands) with one another, except that they receive forgiveness (for their minor sins) before they separate from one another.” (Sunan Tirmizi #2727)
In the abovementioned hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained the great virtue of musaafahah – that it is a means of one’s sins being forgiven. In another similar hadeeth, reported by Sayyiduna Huzaifah bin Yamaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “Indeed, when a believer meets another believer, then greets him with salaam, holds his hand (between his hands) and makes musaafahah with him, then both their sins fall off, like the (dry) leaves of a tree fall off.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #12798)
Musaafahah was the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). (Saheeh Bukhaari #6263) Hence, the ‘Ulama have explained that musaafahah is among the sunnah practices of Deen. (Raddul Muhtaar vol. 6, pg. 381)
The sunnah method of making musaafahah is to make musaafahah with two hands. It is clearly mentioned in the hadeeth that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made musaafahah with two hands. (Saheeh Bukhaari #6265 and Raddul Muhtaar vol. 6, pg. 381)
This will be done by each person placing their right hand between the two hands of the person they are making musaafahah with. In this manner, the palm of each person’s right hand will be against the palm of the other person’s right hand, and the palm of each person’s left hand will be against the back of the other person’s right hand.
From this we understand that the sunnah method of musaafahah is to make musaafahah with the entire hand, not with the fingers alone. (Raddul Muhtaar vol. 6, pg. 382) As for the practice prevalent today of shaking the hands by moving the hand up and down, then this is the way of the non-Muslims and does not conform to the sunnah method of musaafahah.
Another important aspect to bear in mind is that musaafahah should be made together with salaam. Musaafahah should not be made on its own. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned in a hadeeth, “The completion of your greeting each other (with salaam) is to make musaafahah.” Hence, when the musaafahah is the completion of the salaam, then musaafahah should be made together with salaam. (Sunan Tirmizi #2731 and Lama‘aatut Tanqeeh vol. 8, pg. 47)
This is also proven from the hadeeth of Sayyiduna Jundub (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who said, “When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would meet his Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), then he would not make musaafahah with them until he (first) greeted them with salaam.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #12795)
As far as mu‘aanaqah (i.e. embracing when meeting) is concerned, then mu‘aanaqah should be made when meeting a person after a long while when one returns from a journey. Sayyiduna Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned that when the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) would meet one another, then they would make musaafahah (with salaam), and when they would return from a journey, then they would make mu‘aanaqah. (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #12797)
Unfortunately, it has been mentioned that the sunnah of musaafahah is not practiced by some Muslim women today. When meeting one another, then instead of completing the salaam with musaafahah, they hug each other, kiss each other on the cheeks, etc. due to which they remain deprived of practising on the sunnah of musaafahah and lose out the great reward and virtue of musaafahah. Let us strive to bring this sunnah into our lives and acquire the immense reward of our sins being forgiven.