This is first and foremost of pertaining any blame on any particular community. It is merely an observation what we are doing again and again on a daily basis.

Despite being told by countless campaigns we are still shaking hands every single time we come across someone in a mosque, outside or when picking up the kids at school.

We are doing it. 

Some might think this is a small insignificant thing but it isn’t. I feel for some the idea that we should stop shaking hands was an attack on our religion and culture. A step too far.

This is in many way something we have been unable to stop doing from the very first day the pandemic came on to these shores. It is a habit that we could not break or chose not to break.

There one overriding reason for this. It is part of our religion. We meet someone and say ‘Assalamualaikum’ and the automatic response is to hold out one’s hand.

We must in return shake the hand. Not to do so means we are disrespecting the other person or are in some way putting one’s hygiene ahead of religious obligation.

For anyone who feels this is merely a male thing then think again.

I have witnessed as many women shaking hands outside the school gates and then holding on to their child’s hand as they walk away.

Simple health advice states that to stop transmission we must keep our distance and refrain from shaking hands.

In addition to this we are also hugging one another. We would rather shake hands and hug one another rather than say ‘no’ and be embarrassed. I have witnessed this on countless occasions.

What I fail to understand is that we are always talking as if we are being targeted and we are being discriminated against. This has happened but at the same time some of us to blame for ignoring simple advice.

Change in this case is in our own hands.

Submitted by Imran