Title

I would like to know the proper etiquettes of hugging another Muslim. When greeting someone, are you suppose to hug first towards your left then right then left, or right left right?

Question

I would like to know the proper etiquettes of hugging another Muslim. When greeting someone, are you suppose to hug first towards your left then right then left, or right left right?

Answer

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

In principle, it is preferable to hug once in such a manner that each individual touches the right part of the neck of the other.

(Ahsanul Fatāwa, Vol. 8, Pg.407, Sa῾īd)

 “Nabi sallallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam loved to start with the right side as much as possible in everything.”

(Sunan Abi Dawūd, Vol.4, Pg.118) ^[1]

The purpose of making Mu῾ānaqah (hugging) is to express love which is in one’s heart. In the case when the person hugs from the left, the hearts will come closer to each other. For this reason, it is preferable to hug from the left which is the general practice of the people.

(Ahsanul Fatāwa, Vol. 8, Pg.411, Sa῾īd)

In our custom, it is common that people hug by pressing ones chest onto the chest of the other which is also permissible. Hugging in such a way that the stomachs of each person touches the other is not established in shari῾a and should be left out.  The Ulama have mentioned many harms with regards to hugging in this manner.

(Ahsanul Fatāwa, Vol. 8, Pg. 407, Sa῾īd)

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum 

Ml. Abdur Rahman Shareef,
Student Dārul Iftā

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā