Question: How is hugging done according to the Sunnah?
Shaikh: Hugging is embracing, like this.
Questioner: Chest to chest?
Shaikh: No. As for [providing] an accurate description, then we cannot say: chest to chest or side to chest. Whichever way it is easy for you [i.e. that is the way to hug].
[Taken from Fatawaa Raabigh no. 4 found here: https://www.alalbany.net/3789 ]
Question: Hugging is it twice or thrice and from what side do we begin?
Shaikh: How is it twice or thrice?
Questioner: Because some brothers say: hugging is thrice. from this side and this side and the other side?
Shaikh: no, this has no foundation because hugging does not have a form. However, holding on to a specific form in hugging is an innovation in the religion that does not have a foundation. Hugging is not allowed to take as a custom like shaking hands. It is only allowed after a long absence and a lot of yearning. As for people having a specific form, then these customs and traditions are not necessary to follow out of fear that it will become with the people a sunnah.
Questioner: We know that there is innovation in the worship
Shaikh: Yes, you know so hold fast
Questioner: Then hugging is from the customs from what we know. So I say: it is a newly invented matter in the religion. Holding fast to a specific form is an innovation in the religion and I understand that it is an innovation. So how can we reconcile between this and that?
Shaikh: What is it that you understood: that hugging is a newly invented matter or its manners?
Questioner: Holding on to something specific in regards to hugging.
Shaikh: Holding tightly. I say to you: you know so hold tightly. However, holding fast to something mistaking it for religion is a newly invented matter in the religion, so do not contradict between what you know and order that it is established according to what you know and between what you heard right now that holding tightly to something that did not come in the legislation is a newly invented matter in the religion. Are you with me? Do you know the subject of Tantaawi umar?
Questioner: That is, when a we meet a person at the ending…
Shaikh: You did not answer, the subject is predicted here.
Questioner: Allow me this word
Shaikh: Jazakallahu khairan. Bring it forth.
Questioner: When we meet a person and we want to hug him, what do we do so that we do not fall into innovation?
Shaikh: The answer preceded that hugging is not legislated except after a long break and this recorded from the Companions that when they met after a travel, they hugged. It is established in a hadith or to record an narration more authentic we us lately, in the hadith of Abi Tayhaan when he met the Messenger (ﷺ) in his house and he was outside it. So when he came to know the Prophet (ﷺ) was in his house, he hugged him and the Prophet (ﷺ) approved that. So we attach to what we know before in the permissibility of hugging after travelling which we understand as an action of the Companions that it is allowed to hug in temporary situations, is the answer clear? Good, and I return to emphasizing what I just said. So hugging in these two forms is allowed in the legislation. And I said: so this hugging is like kissing the hand of the scholar, however, if the hugging turns to a custom and something held on like kissing the hand of the scholar. So if it becomes like that, it enters into what affair? Newly invented matter in the religion. Clear? Alhamdulillah
[Silsilatul Huda wa-nur no. 192]
Translated by
Faisal ibn Abdul Qaadir ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
