Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed
Translated by SunniPath Answer Service Team
Is it permissible for people to hug each other after performing the Friday prayer?
[Translated by Wajihah Gregor]
Hugging is recommended for the one returning from travel as is established from authentic Hadiths. Whoever has been absent for a
long time is like a traveller in that it is recommended to hug him, as our Imams have stated.
In all other situations, hugging is disliked [by the Shari’a] as mentioned in Al-Majmu` and other books, based on the Hadith of Anas,
Allah be pleased with him, who said: “A man said “O Messenger of Allah, if one of us meets his brother or his friend, should he bow to
him?” The Prophet replied, “No.” He said: Should he cling to him or kiss him?” The Prophet replied, “No.” He said, “Should he take his
hand and shake it?” The Prophet replied, “Yes.” (related by Tirmidhi, who said it was a hasan hadith).
Given the above, if the people who performed the Friday prayer have not returned from travel and have not been absent from each other for
a long time, then it is sunna for them to restrict themselves to the shaking of hands and it is disliked for them to hug each other.
فهي مكروهةٌ كما في “المجموع” وغيره ؛ لحديث أنس رضي الله عنه قال :” قال رجل يا رسول الله الرجل منا يلقى أخاه أو صديقه أينحني له ؟ قال : لا . قال :
أفيلتزمه ويقبله ؟ قال : لا . قال : أفيأخذ بيده ويصافحه ؟ قال : نعم “. رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن .
وعليه فإن لم يكن المصلون قد قدموا من سفر أو طالت غيبتُهم عن بعضهم فالسنةُ لهم الاقتصار على المصافحة وتكره لهم المعانقة .