What is the ruling on kissing the hand of a scholar or a parent?

The questioner : Now, what is the ruling on kissing the hand of a scholar or a parent?

The Shaykh : As for kissing the hand of a parent, there is no basis for it in the Sunnah. As for kissing the hand of a scholar, there is a basis for it, and hadiths have come down, though they are few, because the hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sometimes kissed, and some of the Companions also did this, some of them with one another. However, this was not their constant practice, nor was it their custom to the extent that kissing would take the place of the greeting of peace. We know that in some Islamic countries, the disciple or student rushes to the shaykh to kiss his hand without first greeting him with "Peace be upon you." What is obligatory is the exact opposite: the younger person should greet the older person, just as the one with less knowledge greets the one with more, with a single greeting. If a man of knowledge and virtue greets him, there is no harm in kissing his hand occasionally. By "occasionally," I mean that it should not become a regular practice where the kissing is coupled with the greeting. This was not the way of the Messenger (peace be upon him). We say it is permissible because it occurred during his time (peace be upon him) with him, and he did not disapprove of it. Disapproval, as is well known, should have come from the Messenger if it had been disapproved. Since he did not disapprove but rather approved, his approval indicates the permissibility of what he approved. However, this permissibility should not turn into a confirmed Sunnah that people do not hesitate to perform every time they meet a scholar. The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). We are certain, with conviction, that his close companions did not kiss his hand (peace be upon him), because they knew that the Messenger (peace be upon him) did not recommend it. Even though he approved of it, his approval indicates permissibility, and the fact that those close to him did not do it indicates that it is not recommended. Therefore, I say "occasionally." In the Syrian expression, it is wisdom for the wise Lawgiver to approve of kissing the hand of a scholar as a way of softening people's hearts. For example, a student who is eager for his shaykh might rush to him to kiss his hand. The Messenger (peace be upon him) did something like this; he approved of it and did not disapprove of it with some Bedouins and their like. But those close to him did not do it and did not kiss his hand, for the reason we mentioned earlier: they did not know from him that this kissing was recommended. Especially since this kissing generally falls under the hadith of Anas ibn Malik, which I had traced in "Al-Sahihah": "One of us meets his brother, does he kiss him?" He said: . He said: "Does he bow to him?" He said: . He said: "Does he shake his hand?" He said: . So, does he kiss him upon meeting? He said: No. Kissing the hand of a scholar, if it had not been established, would fall under the prohibition. But it was established and he (peace be upon him) approved of it, so we said it is permissible, and we did not say it is recommended. Especially since in many cases, the kissing is accompanied by something resembling prostration. Therefore, it was reported from the Imam of Andalus, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, that he said: "Kissing the hand is the lesser prostration," because it is indeed sometimes accompanied by some bending.
Other than that?