Clarification and detail regarding the ruling on kissing the hands of parents and righteous scholars, and the indication of the origin of this practice, or its absence, in the pure Sunnah.
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The Shaykh : Kissing the hand: I mentioned that a son kissing the hands of his parents is a matter with no basis in the Sunnah, unlike kissing the hand of a righteous scholar, which has a basis in the Sunnah. Hadiths have been reported which, taken together, indicate that the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was kissed on some occasions. Also, reports (athar) have come that the hands of some of the Companions were likewise kissed without any objection from any of them. This indicates that it is not permissible to rush to deny the origin of the practice of kissing hands, for this origin is established. However, this does not mean, or this origin does not mean, that it is incumbent upon scholars first, and then upon students of knowledge second, to make this a custom with their scholars. This is because the best of people are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the best person whose hand it is valid to kiss is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So when we find that the best of people did not make it a custom to kiss the hand of the best of the messengers, that indicates that kissing the hand is a permissible matter, but it is the weaker position (marjuh), meaning: it is not a recommended (mustahabb) or encouraged (mandub) matter. For if it had been so, the best of people after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it with the best of the prophets, who is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the conclusion is that what students of knowledge should make a custom with righteous scholars is what the best of people made a custom with the master of the messengers, which is: leaving off the kissing of the hand. And on the contrary, they should make handshaking a substitute for kissing, because it is what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in both action and speech:
As for his action, it is as some of the Companions said, and I think it was Abu Dharr:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 44:117: We never met him except that we shook his hand. But it is not reported that we met the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) except that we kissed his hand; there is absolutely nothing like that. Rather, when they met the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), they shook his hand, as this hadith indicates. This is the action. As for the speech, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: :
So in handshaking there is a practical Sunnah and a verbal Sunnah. This verbal Sunnah indicates a great virtue for a Muslim shaking hands with a Muslim. As for kissing, kissing the hand, it is sufficient for it to be permissible, and a permissible matter of the weaker position (marjuh). And by the word "weaker position" (marjuh) I mean that it is done occasionally. And this is as they say in the Levant: "out of the habit of people". Why? A person will be longing for the Shaykh, so he rushes to his hand and kisses it. It is not appropriate for the Shaykh to repel him here, but it is not appropriate for the Shaykh at the same time to accustom his companions and students to kissing his hand, as is the reality of many Shaykhs in some Arab countries. And some of these Shaykhs have established a bad custom by how much they have accustomed their followers and companions to kissing his hand. So, in order to please his audience of students and for each of them to obtain the blessing of kissing his hand, he extends both his hands to save time for his companions. So you find people in two rows, a row on his right and a row on his left. This is undoubtedly something that makes one feel that this Shaykh has deceived himself first, and then his students second, by deluding them that kissing the Shaykh's hand is something that brings them closer to Allah. And the matter is not so, especially if it becomes a rule and with both hands together. This has absolutely no basis in the Sunnah.
And the conclusion is that what students of knowledge should make a custom with righteous scholars is what the best of people made a custom with the master of the messengers, which is: leaving off the kissing of the hand. And on the contrary, they should make handshaking a substitute for kissing, because it is what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in both action and speech:
As for his action, it is as some of the Companions said, and I think it was Abu Dharr:
We never met the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) except that we shook his hand
ما لَقِيَنا رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم إلا وصافحناThere are no two Muslims who meet and shake hands except that their sins fall off them as leaves fall from trees in autumn
ما مِن مسلمين يلتقيان فيتصافحان إلا تحاتَّت عنهما ذنوبهما كما يتحات الورق عن الشجر في الخريفSo in handshaking there is a practical Sunnah and a verbal Sunnah. This verbal Sunnah indicates a great virtue for a Muslim shaking hands with a Muslim. As for kissing, kissing the hand, it is sufficient for it to be permissible, and a permissible matter of the weaker position (marjuh). And by the word "weaker position" (marjuh) I mean that it is done occasionally. And this is as they say in the Levant: "out of the habit of people". Why? A person will be longing for the Shaykh, so he rushes to his hand and kisses it. It is not appropriate for the Shaykh to repel him here, but it is not appropriate for the Shaykh at the same time to accustom his companions and students to kissing his hand, as is the reality of many Shaykhs in some Arab countries. And some of these Shaykhs have established a bad custom by how much they have accustomed their followers and companions to kissing his hand. So, in order to please his audience of students and for each of them to obtain the blessing of kissing his hand, he extends both his hands to save time for his companions. So you find people in two rows, a row on his right and a row on his left. This is undoubtedly something that makes one feel that this Shaykh has deceived himself first, and then his students second, by deluding them that kissing the Shaykh's hand is something that brings them closer to Allah. And the matter is not so, especially if it becomes a rule and with both hands together. This has absolutely no basis in the Sunnah.