Question

Narrated By ‘Abdullah ibn Hisham (radiyallahu ‘anhu): We were with the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and he was holding the hand of ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu). ‘Umar said to Him,

“O Allah’s Apostle! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.’ The Prophet said, ‘No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self.’ Then ‘Umar said to him, ‘However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.’ The Prophet said, ‘Now, O ‘Umar, (now you are a complete believer).'”

Some people say it is Sunnah to walk hand in hand with another Muslim man but I want to know the context of the Hadith and is it really Sunnah or a custom only?

These two Hadiths mention holding hands but in what context is it?

My Question is does it mean literally walk down the road hand in hand or just hold their hand and talk to them?

Answer

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has quoted this Hadith (Hadith: 6264) in -among other chapters- the chapter of shaking hands (musafahah) which illustrates that the hand of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was in the hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for a short period of time. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would often practice this gesture of love with his Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum).

This Hadith (and others to the like) doesn’t support “walking down the road hand in hand” in its contemporary context…

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar