The ruling on embracing and whether it has a specific manner.

The questioner : Embracing, meaning two or three people, and from which side does one start?

The Shaykh : How do you mean, two or three?

The questioner : Because some of the brothers say that embracing is three, meaning this side and this side and the other side?

The Shaykh : No, this has no basis. However, embracing does not have a fixed system. But adhering to a specific system in it is an innovation in the religion of something that has no basis. Embracing is not permissible to be adopted as a custom like shaking hands; rather, it is only permissible after a long absence and great longing. As for people who have certain characteristics, these are customs and traditions that should not be adhered to, out of fear that it may become a Sunnah among some people.

The questioner : We know that innovations are in acts of worship.

The Shaykh : Yes, know and then adhere.

The questioner : So, embracing is among customs, as far as we know. And you said that adhering to a specific system is an innovation in the religion. I understood that it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), so how do you reconcile that with this?

The Shaykh : What did you understand to be an innovation in the religion, the embracing or the manner?

The questioner : Adhering to something specific regarding embracing.

The Shaykh : Adhering. I tell you again: know and then adhere. But adhering to something that gives the impression that it is from the religion is an innovation in the religion. So there is no contradiction between what you know and were ordered to adhere to, and what you just heard about adhering to something that did not come in the Shari'ah being an innovation in the religion. Are you with me? Do you know the topic of al-Tabari? 'Umar.

The questioner : I mean, when we meet a person, the conclusion.

The Shaykh : You did not answer me. The topic is finished so that we can start here.

The questioner : Allow me this word.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. Go ahead.

The questioner : When we meet a person and we want to embrace him, what do we do so that we do not fall into bid'ah (religious innovation)?

The Shaykh : The answer to this has already been given: that embracing is not prescribed except after a long separation. This is explicitly stated regarding the Companions that they used to embrace each other when they met after a journey. It is established in a hadith, or to be more precise, it was established for us recently in the hadith of Abu al-Tayhan that when he met the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in Dharah, and he had been outside of it, when he was surprised to find the Messenger in his house, he embraced him, and the Messenger approved him of that. So we added to our previous knowledge of the permissibility of embracing after a journey, which we understood from the practice of the Companions, we added to that the permissibility of embracing in incidental circumstances. Is the answer clear? Good. And I return to emphasize what I said earlier. So, embracing in these two cases is permissible by the Shari'ah. And I say: that this embracing is like kissing the hand of a scholar. But if embracing turns into a custom and is adhered to, like kissing the hand of a scholar, if it becomes so, it enters the door of what? Innovation in the religion. Is it clear? Praise be to Allah.