Greeting with Handshake

كُنْتُ زَمِيلَ‌[2] أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ كُنْتُ أَبْدَأُ بِالرُّكُوبِ ثُمَّ يَرْكَبُ هُوَ فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْنَا سَلَّمَ وَ سَاءَلَ مُسَاءَلَةَ رَجُلٍ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ بِصَاحِبِهِ وَ صَافَحَ قَالَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا نَزَلَ نَزَلَ قَبْلِي فَإِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُ أَنَا وَ هُوَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ سَلَّمَ وَ سَاءَلَ مُسَاءَلَةَ مَنْ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ بِصَاحِبِهِ- فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَتَفْعَلُ شَيْئاً مَا يَفْعَلُهُ

“’Ubaydah has said, ‘Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey. During the journey, first I would take my seat in the carriage set up on the back of the carry animal and then he would take his seat. He after settling down on his place properly would offer me the greeting of peace and ask a question like a

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا الْتَقَيَا وَ تَصَافَحَا أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمَا فَصَافَحَ أَشَدَّهُمَا حُبّاً لِصَاحِبِهِ.

"When the believing people meet and shake hands Allah inserts His hand between their hands and shakes hands with the one whose love for his brother (in belief) is more intense.’”

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا الْتَقَيَا فَتَصَافَحَا أَدْخَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمَا وَ أَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَى أَشَدِّهِمَا حُبّاً لِصَاحِبِهِ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَيْهِمَا تَحَاتَّتْ عَنْهُمَا الذُّنُوبُ كَمَا يَتَحَاتُّ الْوَرَقُ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ.

‘When two believing people meet and shake hands Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inserts His hand between their hands and faces the one whose love for his brother (in belief) is more intense. When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, turns His face to them their sins begin to fall like leaves from trees.’”

إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا الْتَقَيَا فَتَصَافَحَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِمَا بِوَجْهِهِ وَ تَسَاقَطَتْ عَنْهُمَا الذُّنُوبُ كَمَا يَتَسَاقَطُ الْوَرَقُ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ.

‘‘When two believing people meet and shake hands Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, turns His face (direction, aspect) to them and sins began to fall from them like leaves fall from trees.’”

زَامَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي شِقِّ مَحْمِلٍ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَنَزَلَ فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى حَاجَتَهُ وَ عَادَ قَالَ هَاتِ يَدَكَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ فَنَاوَلْتُهُ يَدِي فَغَمَزَهَا حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ الْأَذَى فِي أَصَابِعِي ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِيَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ فَصَافَحَهُ وَ شَبَّكَ أَصَابِعَهُ‌[1] فِي أَصَابِعِهِ إِلَّا تَنَاثَرَتْ عَنْهُمَا ذُن

“Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey on one side of the carriage on the camel from Madina to Makka. On the way he dismounted for rest and, when he returned, he asked me for a handshake. He squeezed my hand so hard that my fingers began to hurt. He then said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, when two Muslims meet, sh

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا مَالِكُ أَنْتُمْ شِيعَتُنَا أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّكَ تُفْرِطُ فِي أَمْرِنَا إِنَّهُ لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى صِفَةِ اللَّهِ فَكَمَا لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى صِفَةِ اللَّهِ كَذَلِكَ لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى صِفَتِنَا وَ كَمَا لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى صِفَتِنَا كَذَلِكَ لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى صِفَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيَلْقَى الْمُؤْمِنَ فَيُصَافِحُهُ فَلَا يَزَالُ اللَّهُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ الذُّنُوبُ تَ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) once said to me, ‘O Malik, you are of our followers (Shi’a). Are you aware that you go to extremes in our cause? No one is able to describe Allah. Just as no one is able to describe Allah, no one is able to describe us. Just as no one is able to describe us, no one is able to describe the believer. W

زَامَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَحَطَطْنَا الرَّحْلَ‌[3] ثُمَّ مَشَى قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَغَمَزَهَا غَمْزَةً شَدِيدَةً فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ وَ مَا كُنْتُ مَعَكَ فِي الْمَحْمِلِ فَقَالَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا جَالَ جَوْلَةً ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ أَخِيهِ نَظَرَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ مُقْبِلًا عَلَيْهِمَا بِوَجْهِهِ وَ يَقُولُ لِلذُّنُوبِ تَحَاتَّ عَنْهُمَا فَ

“Once I was a partner of abu Ja’far (a.s.) on a journey. On the way we unloaded our luggage and he walked a little and came back, held my hand and squeezed it hard. I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, ‘Was I not with you in the carriage?’ The Imam asked, ‘Did you not know that when the believer

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ حَدِّ الْمُصَافَحَةِ فَقَالَ دَوْرُ نَخْلَةٍ.

The Imam said, ‘It is just after going around a palm tree.’”

يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا تَوَارَى أَحَدُهُمَا عَنْ صَاحِبِهِ بِشَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ الْتَقَيَا أَنْ يَتَصَافَحَا.

“It is a good idea for the believers to shake each other’s hands after one of them remains out of sight, even because of a tree in between.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا لَقِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لْيُصَافِحْهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَكْرَمَ بِذَلِكَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ فَاصْنَعُوا صُنْعَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whenever any of you meets his Muslim brother (in belief) he should offer him the greeting of peace and shake his hand; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has honored the angels with it and you should also do what the angels do.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا الْتَقَيْتُمْ فَتَلَاقَوْا بِالتَّسْلِيمِ وَ التَّصَافُحِ وَ إِذَا تَفَرَّقْتُمْ فَتَفَرَّقُوا بِالاسْتِغْفَارِ[4].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whenever you meet, you should do so by offering the greeting of peace and shaking hands and depart each other with a plea to Allah for forgiveness.’”

كَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِذَا غَزَوْا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مَرُّوا بِمَكَانٍ كَثِيرِ الشَّجَرِ ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا إِلَى الْفَضَاءِ نَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ فَتَصَافَحُوا.

“During an armed expedition the Muslims, along with the Messenger of Allah, each time after passing through a wooded area on reaching the open would look at each other and shake hands.”

إِذَا صَافَحَ الرَّجُلُ صَاحِبَهُ فَالَّذِي يَلْزَمُ التَّصَافُحَ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنَ الَّذِي يَدَعُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الذُّنُوبَ لَتَتَحَاتُّ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ حَتَّى لَا يَبْقَى ذَنْبٌ.

“When two people shake hands, the one who continues holding his hand will receive greater reward than the one who releases early. However, the sins fall off of them until no sins remain.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ بِوَجْهٍ قَاطِبٍ‌[5] فَقُلْتُ مَا الَّذِي غَيَّرَكَ لِي قَالَ الَّذِي غَيَّرَكَ لِإِخْوَانِكَ بَلَغَنِي يَا إِسْحَاقُ أَنَّكَ أَقْعَدْتَ بِبَابِكَ‌ بَوَّاباً يَرُدُّ عَنْكَ فُقَرَاءَ الشِّيعَةِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي خِفْتُ الشُّهْرَةَ فَقَالَ أَ فَلَا خِفْتَ الْبَلِيَّةَ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَيْنِ إِذَا الْتَقَيَا فَتَصَافَحَا أَنْزَلَ ال

“Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he looked at me frowning. I asked, ‘May I know how I have disappointed you?’ The Imam said, ‘It is that which has changed you toward your brothers (in belief). It has come to my notice, O Ishaq, that you have appointed someone at your door to drive away the poor people of th

مَا صَافَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص رَجُلًا قَطُّ فَنَزَعَ يَدَهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ هُوَ الَّذِي يَنْزِعُ يَدَهُ مِنْهُ‌[4].

“When shaking hands with people, the Messenger of Allah had never been the first to discontinue the handshake.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يُوصَفُ وَ كَيْفَ يُوصَفُ وَ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ ما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ‌[5] فَلَا يُوصَفُ بِقَدْرٍ إِلَّا كَانَ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص لَا يُوصَفُ وَ كَيْفَ يُوصَفُ عَبْدٌ احْتَجَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِسَبْعٍ‌[6] وَ جَعَلَ طَاعَتَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَطَاعَتِهِ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَ

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, cannot be described and how can He be described when He says in His book, “They have not revered (honored and respected) Allah properly. . . .” (22:74) He cannot be described through measurement. He is greater than such measures of respect. Th

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا الْتَقَى الْمُؤْمِنَانِ فَتَصَافَحَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ بِوَجْهِهِ عَلَيْهِمَا وَ تَتَحَاتُّ الذُّنُوبُ عَنْ وُجُوهِهِمَا حَتَّى يَفْتَرِقَا.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘When two believing people meet and shake hands, Allah turns to them with His face and sins began to fall from their faces until they depart from each other.’”

تَصَافَحُوا فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِالسَّخِيمَةِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do shake hands, it removes jealousy.”

لَقِيَ النَّبِيُّ ص حُذَيْفَةَ فَمَدَّ النَّبِيُّ ص يَدَهُ فَكَفَّ حُذَيْفَةُ يَدَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص يَا حُذَيْفَةُ بَسَطْتُ يَدِي إِلَيْكَ فَكَفَفْتَ يَدَكَ عَنِّي فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِيَدِكَ الرَّغْبَةُ[2] وَ لَكِنِّي كُنْتُ جُنُباً فَلَمْ أُحِبَّ أَنْ تَمَسَّ يَدِي يَدَكَ وَ أَنَا جُنُبٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَ مَا تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْمُسْلِمَيْنِ إِذَا الْتَقَيَا فَتَصَافَحَا تَحَاتَّتْ ذُن

“The Holy Prophet once met Hudhayfah and he extended his hand, but Hudhayfah held his hand back. The Holy Prophet asked, ‘How is it, O Hudhayfah, that I extended my hand to you and you held your hand back?’ Hudhayfah then said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, your hand is attractive but I am in a state of ritual impurity (Janab

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَقْدِرُ[3] أَحَدٌ قَدْرَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ لَا يَقْدِرُ قَدْرَ نَبِيِّهِ وَ كَذَلِكَ لَا يَقْدِرُ قَدْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّهُ لَيَلْقَى أَخَاهُ فَيُصَافِحُهُ فَيَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمَا وَ الذُّنُوبُ تَتَحَاتُّ عَنْ وُجُوهِهِمَا حَتَّى يَفْتَرِقَا كَمَا تَتَحَاتُّ الرِّيحَ الشَّدِيدَةَ الْوَرَقُ عَنِ الشَّجَرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘No one is able to describe Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, as He should be described. In the same way His Holy Prophet cannot be described. Also, the importance of the believing people cannot be described. When he meets his brother (in belief) and shakes hands, Allah looks tow

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مُصَافَحَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ مُصَافَحَةِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A handshake of believing people is better than a handshake of angels.’”