Encyclopedia of Translated Hadiths (HadeethEnc) · Virtues and Manners
Number: 6257
No two Muslims meet and shake hands except that their sins are forgiven before they part
عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ فَيَتَصَافَحَانِ إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُمَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا».
Al-Barā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No two Muslims meet and shake hands except that their sins are forgiven before they part."
Translation by HadeethEnc.com
Grade[Sahīh (authentic) based on its overall chains of transmission][Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad]
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that no two Muslims meet on a way or the like, and one of them greets the other with a handshake, except that both of them will be forgiven before they part ways, whether physically or after finishing the handshake.
Benefits of the hadith
- Shaking hands upon meeting is recommended and encouraged.
- Al-Munāwi said: The Sunnah act is not fulfilled except by placing the right hand in the right hand when there is no excuse.
- Encouraging spreading the greeting of peace and highlighting the great reward attained when a Muslim shakes hands with his fellow Muslim.
- The prohibited handshaking, such as shaking hands with a foreign woman, is excluded from the Hadīth.
HadeethEnc.com · English edition v1.25.0, updated 2026-05-10 · Open on HadeethEnc.com