The Ruling on Embracing and Kissing When Meeting
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Some customs, such as embracing and kissing when meeting, have spread among Muslims in these times. What is the ruling on that?
There is no basis for embracing or kissing when meeting, except if there is a reason for it, such as the arrival of someone from a journey or the like. We all know that the people who loved the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the most were the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and that the most deserving of respect is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Yet when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) met him, they did not kiss him; they did not kiss his head, his hands, or any part of his body—such as his shoulders, for example. They only shook his hand.Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (He was asked about a man who meets his brother: should he bow to him?He said: No.
They said: Should he embrace him and hold him tight?He said: No.
They said: Should he shake his hand?He said: Yes.) This is what is prescribed.
And what the questioner mentioned, that in our time people have taken kissing in place of shaking hands, is true. How many people are there who meet us and take our heads to kiss them, and then they may shake hands or they may not. The Sunnah is to shake hands. As for kissing the head, if it is for a reason, as we mentioned earlier, this is what came in the Sunnah, such as the arrival of an absent person. If it is without a reason, it is among the permissible matters, provided that the one whose head is kissed is worthy of that, because he is beneficial to the Muslims with his wealth or his knowledge. There is no harm in kissing his head. Likewise, the father and the elder brother and the like.
There is no basis for embracing or kissing when meeting, except if there is a reason for it, such as the arrival of someone from a journey or the like. We all know that the people who loved the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the most were the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and that the most deserving of respect is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Yet when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) met him, they did not kiss him; they did not kiss his head, his hands, or any part of his body—such as his shoulders, for example. They only shook his hand.Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (He was asked about a man who meets his brother: should he bow to him?He said: No.
They said: Should he embrace him and hold him tight?He said: No.
They said: Should he shake his hand?He said: Yes.) This is what is prescribed.
And what the questioner mentioned, that in our time people have taken kissing in place of shaking hands, is true. How many people are there who meet us and take our heads to kiss them, and then they may shake hands or they may not. The Sunnah is to shake hands. As for kissing the head, if it is for a reason, as we mentioned earlier, this is what came in the Sunnah, such as the arrival of an absent person. If it is without a reason, it is among the permissible matters, provided that the one whose head is kissed is worthy of that, because he is beneficial to the Muslims with his wealth or his knowledge. There is no harm in kissing his head. Likewise, the father and the elder brother and the like.