The Hadith: 'If you shake hands with the Christians purify yourselves'

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Q 6: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If you shake hands with the Christians, purify yourselves.” So should we wash our hands after shaking hands with them or perform Wudu’ (ablution) the way we do before offering Salah (Prayer)? Please give us a clear and convincing answer, because we live among non-Muslims. There is neither Might nor Power save with Allah.

(Part No. 4; Page No. 468) A: This Hadith is not Sahih (authentic). It came in the book "Al-Fawa’id Al-Majmu‘ah" as follows: “Anyone who shakes hands with a Jew or a Christian should perform Wudu’ and wash their hands.” It was related by Ibn ‘Ady on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a Hadith Marfu‘ (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration). He commented saying, "It is not authentic." The Sanad (chain of narrators) includes Ibrahim ibn Hani’, who is an unknown narrator who used to narrate fabricated reports. Al-Kinany mentioned it in: "Tanzih Al-Shari‘ah", and said, "It is not authentic."May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.