The people of Yemen called on the Glorious Prophet of Allah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and introduced for the first time the custom of shaking hands. (Abu Da’ood) The Sahabah accepted this custom so extensively that Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) applied perfume in his hands only to shake hands with his friends. (Adaabul-Mufrad) 

Sayyiduna Bara Bin ‘Aazib (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When two Muslims shake hands with each other, they are pardoned of their sins before they separate.”  (Ibne-Maja)  

Sayyiduna Salmaan (radi Allahu anhu) reported that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When a Muslim meets his Muslim brother and shakes hand, their sins fall down like the dry leaves from a tree during a storm, and their sins are forgiven even if these are equal to the foams of ocean”.  (Tabraani) 

Sayyiduna Qatada (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I asked Anas (radi Allahu anhu), ‘Was it a custom of the companions of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to shake hands with one another?’ He said, ‘Yes’”. (Bukhari) 

According to authentic reports, the Beloved Habeeb (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) never shook hands with any woman who was not his wife or a close relative. Although there is no Hadith, which describes shaking hands with women as forbidden, the Holy Prophet’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) example should be the one for us to follow. One is highly encouraged to avoid shaking hands with members of the opposite sex.