Answered by Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera
Sometime while making my du’a after Fajr/Isha prayers the imam makes a loud du’a for all the congregation then they all stand and shake hands. 1; Should I stop my du’a and listen/respond to the Imam’s du’a? 2; Am I allowed to interrupt my du’a to shake hands then return to the du’as? (i.e. are the later du’as less likely to be accepted?)
Assalamu alaykum
In he name of Allah the Inspirer of Truth.
Among the optune places of making du’a and the times when du’as are accepted is following the obligatory prayers. Hence, one should strive to make even a short du’a at this time not to miss the increased opportunity of acceptance. This du’a can be made by oneself, or by saying amin and taking part in the imam’s du’a.
Having said this, it should also be remembered that is not part of the prayer and after the salam is made the legal connection between the imam and follower is terminated. Hence, it is not necessary as such to participate in the imam’s du’a whether he makes it aloud or silently.
Therefore the answer to your question is as follows:
1. You may make your own du’a or join in with the imam’s du’a.
2. You may continue your du’a and not take part in the ritual shaking of the hands. Regarding shaking hands after prayer, ‘Allama Ibn ‘Abidin writes in his Radd al-muhtar:
“It has been related in the Tabyin al-maharim from the Multaqat that it is disliked (makruh) to shake hands after performing salat in any state, because the Sahaba did not shake hands after the salawat and it is from the ways of the Rawafidh. Then he relates from Ibn Hajar of the Shafi’i scholars that it is a reprehensible innovation [bid’a makruha] without any basis in the Shari’a; one doing it should be admonished the first time, and the second time disciplined. Then he states, that Ibn al-Hajj from the Malikis has said in his Madkhal that it is from the innovations. The time for shaking hands [musafaha] in the Shari’a is when a Muslim meets his brother and not [specifically] after the prayers…” (Radd al-Muhtar 5:244).
One must not take this to mean that it is completely prohibited to shake hands after any prayer even for instance when meeting someone for the first time. The above quote is more in rejection of shaking hands after prayers as an emphasized social custom or obligation, which may relate to your situation.
Wassalam