In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abdah Bin Abee Lubaabah reported from Mujaahid, who reported from Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] in [Marfoo form] that “When a Muslim meets his Muslim brother another, takes hold of his hand and shakes hands with him, their sins (Ref 1) fall away from their fingers like leaves falling from a tree during winter”. Abdah said, “I said to Mujaahid, ‘Indeed, this is easy’”, so Mujaahid said, “Do not say this, for indeed Allaah [The Exalted] said in His Book [i.e. The Qur’aan] [لَوۡ أَنفَقۡتَ مَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا مَّآ أَلَّفۡتَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَلَـٰڪِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيۡنَہُمۡ‌ۚ – If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them(Surah al-Anfaal. Aayah 63)]; so I realised the excellence of his knowledge above that of others.

Beneficial Reminders From This Hadeeth By Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadi [rahimahullaah]

This is from the excellence and virtues of Islaam, because it brought about [sound] unity even though afore time the people were in a state of disharmony and conflict- neither upon brotherhood nor did they love one another; so Islaam came with the call that made the hearts [incline towards each other with love, harmony, wishing good for one another etc, just as Allaah stated regarding the statement of the believers]: [وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلاًّ۬ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ – And put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed]. [Surah Al-Hashr. Aayah 10]

Islaam [conveyed by way of encouragement and making mention of the virtues] of greeting with salaam, returning salaam, hand shaking and its end [good] outcomes, just as it has been stated in the hadeeth that when two Muslims meet each other, shake each other’s hand [when greeting one another with salaam and being truthful about that in their hearts], their sins (Ref 2) fall away just as leaves fall from its tree. This is from those virtuous deeds befitting for the Muslims to show eagerness for its [attainment], so that a person earns great reward, [earns] the brotherhood of his Muslim brothers, [earns] forgiveness, expiation of his sins, [earns] the companionship of the virtuous people, becomes beloved to the people in the society and has many Muslim brothers who treat him with kindness – during his lifetime and after his death. Therefore, we should be eager to [greet] and shake hands, be truthful, and show affection and love to our Muslim brothers, so that harmony is perfected between the Muslims. Likewise, the female Muslims should do this amongst themselves- [show] eagerness for sisterhood by way of [greeting with salaam] and hand shaking, because this virtuous deed is not restricted to men, rather it is general for men and women as far as I am aware. And Allaah knows best. [An Excerpt ‘At-taleeqaatul Maleehah Alaa Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah. Vol 1. Page 60. Slightly paraphrased]

Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burjess [rahimahullaah] said:

Imaam Ibn Abdul-Barr [rahimahullaah] said: The obligation of returning the Islamic greeting is [found in the] statement of [Allaah]:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا

”When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.” [Nisaa: ayah: 86]

Imaam Ibn Katheer [rahimahullaah] said: To give the Islamic greeting is voluntary and it is an obligation to return it. This is what all the scholars say- that it is obligated on the one who is given the salaam to reply and he has sinned if he does not reply, because he has opposed Allaah’s command. The abandonment of returning the Islamic greeting is an evil and ugly deed and many people have been afflicted with it in this era. And they are prevented from it due to pride and self-amazement. So, we gently say to all of them, ”Who are you?! And from what are you created?!” Allaah said:

مِنۡ أَىِّ شَىۡءٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ

مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ فَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ

‘’From what thing did He create him? From Nutfah (male and female semen drops) He created him, and then set him in due proportion.’’ [Abasa: Ayah: 17-18]

Are you greater in status than the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]? Indeed he [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] returned the Islamic greeting of the young, the old, the free person and the slave, and he also greeted them. Therefore, let there be a good example in the Messenger of Allaah for you to follow. We ask Allaah for guidance and success for all. Also when a person is leaving a gathering and gives the salaam, it is obligatory to reply to him. [An Excerpt from ‘Al-Ilaam Bi-Ba’di Ahkaam As-Salaam’- pages: 11-12.slightly paraphrased]

Refs 1 & 2: Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] stated a principle related the unrestricted Ahaadeeth in which a mention is made regarding the expiation of sins, that they are restricted by the texts in regarding the abandonment of major sins – either restricted by the statement of Allaah: [إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ – If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins. (Surah An-Nisaa. Aayah 31)]; or by the statement of the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], “The five prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan will expiate the sins committed between them, as long as major sins are avoided”.

ال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: «العمرةُ إلى العمرة كفَّارةٌ لما بينهما، والحجُّ المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة»، هذا يُبين فضل الحج والعمرة، وأن العمرة كفَّارة لما بينهما، يعني: عند اجتناب الكبائر.

قاعدة: الأحاديث المطلقة في تكفير الذنوب مُقيَّدة بترك الكبائر، إما بقوله سبحانه: {إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ} [النساء:31]، وفي قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «الصَّلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان كفَّارات لما بينهنَّ إذا اجتنب الكبائر»، وفي اللفظ الآخر: «ما لم تُغْشَ الكبائر»، فالعمرة إلى العمرة كفَّارة لما بينهما عند اجتناب الكبائر.

«والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة» يعني: عند اجتناب الكبائر، كما قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَن حجَّ فلم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع كيوم ولدته أمه»، فالحج المبرور هو الذي ليس فيه رفثٌ ولا فسوقٌ، هذا الحج المبرور، ليس فيه ما يُبطله، وليس فيه ما ينقصه من المعاصي، هذا هو الحج المبرور الذي يُوجب الجنة

https://binbaz.org.sa/audios/45/1–%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7