Shaking hands and embracing with a kafir and a fasiq

Question

May one shake hands (musafaha) and embrace (muʿanaqa) with kafirs, fasiqs and the wicked (fujjar)? What was the practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in this regard? And if these people come to meet and advance for a handshake and an embrace, should one pull one’s hands away from them?

Answer

The purpose of shaking hands and embracing is the expression of love, respect and affection, “and the kafir does not deserve that” (والكافر لا يستحق ذلك). The basis is the salam, and the handshake is its complement (tatimma); and in “the People of the Book are not to be greeted first with the salam” (لا يبتدأ أهل الكتاب بالسلام)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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