Is it sufficient to offer the salam in a general manner when a person enters a group, or is it obligatory to shake their hands?

Question:
He says, may Allah reward you: If a person enters a group who are in a gathering, should he shake their hands, or is it sufficient for him to offer the salam to them in a general manner?

Answer:
He has the choice. If he wishes, he shakes their hands, and if he wishes, he offers the salam to them and sits down. However, it is better for him to offer the salam and sit down if they are not affected by not shaking hands, or if there is no one among them who is affected by not shaking hands. In that case, he shakes their hands to prevent them from feeling slighted. But if they are not affected by this, it is sufficient for him to offer the salam and sit down, unless he has been away from them and has not seen them. In that case, he shakes their hands because he has been away from them. But if he has recently seen them, it is sufficient for him to offer the salam, unless the reason for not shaking hands is that they would be affected, or some of them would be affected, and it has become customary to shake hands. If he omits it, they might say, "This is showing off," or "You are being arrogant," or "We were afraid of you." In that case, he should shake their hands.