What is the ruling on shaking hands with a disbeliever if he initiates the handshake?

The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the ruling on shaking hands with a disbeliever if he is the one who initiates the handshake?

The Shaykh : I did not understand?

The questioner : If a disbeliever extends his hand for a handshake, do you return it or not?

The Shaykh : Yes, if a disbeliever extends his hand for a handshake, extend yours and shake his hand. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only forbade initiating them, meaning that we should not initiate the greeting to them. However, if they initiate it with us or shake our hands first, we shake their hands. But we do not extend our hands to them for a handshake. So, if a disbeliever greets you, return the greeting. If he shakes your hand, extend your hand to him. If he does not greet you, do not greet him. If he does not shake your hand, do not shake his hand. And take this noble verse, may Allah bless you: . It did not say: "If some of you greet each other." It says: "If you are greeted," meaning if anyone greets us, even if he is the most disbelieving of Allah's servants, we return to him like his greeting or better. However, the preferred course with non-Muslims is not to return a better greeting; rather, return to them like their greeting. Because if you return a better greeting to him, you have increased his good and he will be pleased with this.