the pedestrian.” This applies when the two meet: if one is riding and the other walking, the rider should initiate the greeting; if both are riding or both walking, the younger should initiate it. As for someone passing another person or entering his presence, he should initiate the greeting, even if he is walking and the person he passes is riding or younger. Likewise, someone travelling along a road who catches up with another person and overtakes him must initiate the greeting, even if the other person is younger or is riding while he himself is walking.
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If one member of a group gives the greeting, that suffices for them all, as stated in the hadith. By analogy, a reply from one of those greeted likewise suffices for them all. A view outside our school holds that this does not suffice when returning the greeting, but this is an anomalous opinion. Greeting a young woman is disliked, but there is no objection to greeting an elderly woman.
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Shaking hands is permissible; indeed, it is recommended. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Shake hands, and rancour will depart; exchange gifts, and you will love one another and enmity will disappear.”
Mālik disapproved of shaking hands according to Ashhab’s narration in the Miscellany section of al-‘Utbiyya, saying: “It is less objectionable than embracing.” The well-known position reported from Mālik, however, is that it is permissible and recommended. This is indicated by his approach in the Muwatta’, where he included the previously mentioned hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it. There are many reports concerning handshaking, including the hadith of al-Barā’, who related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whenever two Muslims meet and shake hands, Allah forgives them before they part.”
What is established as Mālik’s position is his disapproval of embracing. Some scholars permitted it, including Ibn ‘Uyayna. It is related that he visited Mālik (may Allah have mercy on him) and shook hands with him. Mālik said to him: “Abū Muhammad, were it not an innovation, we would embrace you.”
Sufyān ibn ‘Uyayna replied: “Someone better than you and me—the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—did embrace someone.”
Mālik asked: “Ja‘far?”
He replied: “Yes.”
Mālik said: “That hadith concerns a particular case, Abū Muhammad,