The Ruling on Handshaking and Greeting After Prayer

The questioner:
There is no basis for it, even though many of the poor do it, greeting one another after the prayer and raising their voices with it, which leads to cutting off the dhikr and the tashahhud.

The Shaykh:
Making this a habit has no basis. Making it a habit, specifically handshaking after the obligatory prayer, has no basis. So it is obligatory to leave it off and engage in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, if a person does it occasionally because he has not seen this person except at this moment, there is nothing wrong with it. This is a greeting upon meeting; there is nothing wrong with it. Yes, a greeting upon meeting; because you have not seen him except at this moment, so you greet him when you meet him after the prayer. There is nothing wrong with that.

The questioner:
This is recorded.

The Shaykh:
As for making this a habit, even if you saw him before the prayer and you entered with him and greeted him before the prayer, and then you greet him again after the taslim, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) with no basis. Yes.

The questioner:
From the Levant.

The Shaykh:
Not with the tongue and not with a handshake. This is only done out of necessity if you do not meet him except at this moment. Yes.