Embracing Each Other on Eid Day

We embrace our fellow Musallin and relatives on Eid days. Someone has told me that actually it is forbidden in Islam to do it on Eid-days! But people are doing it only on those 2 days! Please, let me know the truth.

Bismillah Rahman Rahim. Alhamdulillah Rabb Al-Alamin Was-Salatu Was-Salamu ‘Ala Rasul Al-Karim. Allahu 'Alim:

Truly, it is Allah who has all Knowledge and we have only that which Allah bestows on us. The best that I know on this subject might be:

Embracing each other was established at the time of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), on the occasions when people had come great distances or had not seen each other for a long time and on occasions of importance such as weddings, funerals, birth of babies and of course the two Eids. However, on a regular basis it is preferred to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), by shaking hands. The clear Hadith states the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), said, "Sins fall from the Muslims like water, as long as their hands are joined together (shaking hands)."

But it is not correct to bother Muslims with these types of issues when they are in much worse conditions on other issues. Many of the Muslims today are committing shirk in their actions and doing serious Bid’ah. Let us first bring the Muslims together for the sake of Allah and then let our scholars present the correct way for all of us. Do not drive the Muslims away from each other and in so doing, drive them away from Allah.

Again, Allah is the All-Knower. Any good is from Allah and the mistakes are from myself, may Allah forgive me, Ameen.

Sheikh Yusuf Estes