What is the ruling on a man kissing his mahrams when he returns from travel or during the festivals?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, it is common in some families for a man, when he returns from travel or on occasions or festivals, to kiss his mahrams, such as his aunts or his sisters. What is your opinion on this?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a man to kiss his aunts, his sisters, his mothers, his grandmothers, his daughters, his granddaughters through his sons, or his granddaughters through his daughters. All of this is permissible and there is no harm in it, because they are mahrams. However, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) were strict regarding kissing on the mouth, and they said: One should not kiss on the mouth except his wife, because this may arouse desire. Accordingly, if the woman you wish to kiss is older than you, kiss her forehead or the top of her head. If she is younger than you, kiss her cheek and forehead, on the condition that you do not feel any movement. If you fear for yourself, do not kiss. This is the ruling. But first, we ask about the kissing: Is it prescribed to kiss every person you meet? No, it is not prescribed. What is prescribed when you meet a person is shaking hands, not kissing, unless there is a reason, such as returning from travel or not having seen the person for a long time. In that case, there is no harm. Otherwise, shaking hands is the Sunnah.
By the way, I would like to point out something that has happened recently, which we did not know about before. When a person meets you, he does not take your hand to shake it, but instead takes hold of what? Your head, immediately. This is wrong. We do not say: Do not kiss the head. Kiss the head of whoever deserves to be kissed. But do not make it the default, immediately grabbing his head and kissing it. This is wrong. Do the Sunnah first, which is shaking hands. Then, if the man is worthy of being kissed, kiss his head. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Who is next? Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a man to kiss his aunts, his sisters, his mothers, his grandmothers, his daughters, his granddaughters through his sons, or his granddaughters through his daughters. All of this is permissible and there is no harm in it, because they are mahrams. However, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) were strict regarding kissing on the mouth, and they said: One should not kiss on the mouth except his wife, because this may arouse desire. Accordingly, if the woman you wish to kiss is older than you, kiss her forehead or the top of her head. If she is younger than you, kiss her cheek and forehead, on the condition that you do not feel any movement. If you fear for yourself, do not kiss. This is the ruling. But first, we ask about the kissing: Is it prescribed to kiss every person you meet? No, it is not prescribed. What is prescribed when you meet a person is shaking hands, not kissing, unless there is a reason, such as returning from travel or not having seen the person for a long time. In that case, there is no harm. Otherwise, shaking hands is the Sunnah.
By the way, I would like to point out something that has happened recently, which we did not know about before. When a person meets you, he does not take your hand to shake it, but instead takes hold of what? Your head, immediately. This is wrong. We do not say: Do not kiss the head. Kiss the head of whoever deserves to be kissed. But do not make it the default, immediately grabbing his head and kissing it. This is wrong. Do the Sunnah first, which is shaking hands. Then, if the man is worthy of being kissed, kiss his head. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Who is next? Please go ahead.