[ authentic] proof is totally rejected and hence imitation at this point must not take place’. (1)

He also said: ‘The Hanaf?, Sh?fi‘? and M?lik? scholars stated clearly that such an act is abhorred and it is even a Bid‘ah. In “Al-Multaqat”, the author stated that shaking hands with others after performing Sal?t is totally detested for the Sah?bah never shook hands with each other after performing Sal?t. Besides, this act is one of the R?fidah distinctive features. Ibn Hajar -one of the Sh?fi‘? scholars- said that what people do after performing Sal?t of shaking each others’ hands is something detested that has no origin in our Shar‘’. (2)

Later on, he stated his view clearly saying: ‘In my opinion, all scholars agreed that this act of shaking hands [after performing Sal?t] has no original basis in the Shar‘. However, they disagreed whether it could be classified with the Makr?h [detested] acts or the Mub?h [permitted] ones. Accordingly, the proper ruling that should be delivered is that it is banned; for repelling evil is given precedence over bringing benefit and by fortiori over Mub?h.

Unfortunately, those who practice this act believe that this is a good deed and hence their persistence on doing it and launching war against any opposer. It was also mentioned earlier that persisting on doing that which is Mub?h leads to doing the Makr?h, with all the more reason persisting on practicing Bid‘ah -that has no original basis in the Shar‘. No doubt that such an act is totally Makr?h -as many scholars stated whose rulings are far away ahead of those who did not scrutinize the narrations they gathered regarding this point; and hence collecting all that which is true and false, such as the compilers of “J?mi‘ul Barak?t”, “As-Sir?jul Mun?r” and “Mat?lib Al-Mu’min?n” -a few to mention. How strange that the author of “Khiz?natur Riw?yah” narrated such false narrations in his “Aqdul La’?li” such as: the prophet ( - ) said: