FatwaFederal TerritoriesSocial & Contemporary Issues
AL-KAFI #1665: BERSALAMAN KETIKA SUASANA WABAK COVID-19
What is the ruling on shaking hands during the COVID-19 outbreak?
Short answer
Shaking hands when meeting is originally a sunnah and may be done in normal circumstances.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Shaking hands when meeting is originally a sunnah and may be done in normal circumstances. During an outbreak, especially in places suspected of infection, refraining from handshakes is not wrong because the harm is greater. The fatwa leans towards not shaking hands for now until conditions return to normal, and supports the Ministry of Health advice to greet by gesturing the hand to the chest, together with a verbal greeting and a smile.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Berjabat tangan atau bersalaman ketika berjumpa itu adalah sunnah hukumnya.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1665: BERSALAMAN KETIKA SUASANA WABAK COVID-19”, 17 March 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/4337-al-kafi-1664-bersalaman-ketika-suasana-wabak-covid-19. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-handshaking-during-covid-19-outbreak/