Salaam with One Hand

Q: Can a person do salaam with one hand? What’s the sunnat way of doing salaam?

A: Your question refers. Musaafaha or shaking of hands can be done with one or both hands. Both methods are sunnat. However, in today’s times it is a prevalent practice among the non-muslims to greet with one hand; therefore, we should adopt the sunnat of greeting with two hands to differ with the method of the kuffar.

The Ulema have mentioned that when a sunnat becomes a salient practice of the kuffar then it is preferable to avoid that sunnat and practice on another one in its place.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

Mufti Siraj Desai