Is it in the Sunnah to greet the people of the gathering and shake hands with them while they are seated?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says that some students of knowledge say that the Sunnah is to greet the people of the gathering while they are seated, meaning to shake hands with them while they are seated.

Answer:
As is customary, the Shaykh of Islam says that if you do not stand up for him, provided he is not a scholar, does not have a ruler, does not have a father, and is not among those for whom standing is prescribed, but is from the general people, then if you do not stand up for him, it becomes the same thing, and he hates you and it does not hurt his feelings; to ward off harm, you stand up. There is no harm if you fear that he will be affected, or you stand up to ward off harm. Yes.