Shaking hands after every Salah

Question: Is it Sunnah to shake hands with those on the left and right after every Salah?

Praise be to Allah

Summary:
While shaking hands to greet others is encouraged in Islam, making it a ritual after every Salah by greeting those to the left and right is not a Sunnah. This practice lacks any basis in the Quran or authentic Hadith and was not a custom of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) or his companions. Thus, this habit is considered an innovation (Bid’ah) when done as a regular practice after Salah.

Detailed Answer:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized the virtue of greeting others with peace and shaking hands upon meeting, as he said, “When two Muslims meet and shake hands, their sins are forgiven before they part.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 5212; Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2727). However, making it a ritualistic part of Salah to shake hands with others immediately after prayer is not recorded in any authentic Hadith and was not the practice of the Prophet or his companions.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against adding rituals to the prescribed acts of worship, advising “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours (Islam) something that is not from it, it is rejected.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2697; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1718). Therefore, while casual handshakes upon meeting are encouraged, doing so as a regular custom after Salah is not from the Sunnah.

And Allah Knows Best