It is better to leave off kissing hands

Question:
After this, we move on to Al-Bahah, via a message sent by one of the female listeners. The sender (A. Q.) says our sister has several questions, one of which is: Tell us, Your Eminence, if you would be so kind, about kissing the hand of one whom we love and respect, whether for old age, or for knowledge, virtue, and piety?

Answer:
Leaving off the kissing is better. It was not the custom of the Salaf to kiss hands. Leaving off the kissing is better; the greeting, the salutation, and the handshake suffice. For a woman with another woman, or with her mahrams, and for a man with another man, or with his mahrams among women, the handshake is sufficient. And if a woman kisses the head of her father, there is nothing wrong with it. Fatimah, when she entered upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), would kiss him and take his hand, and he would do the same. As for making it a habit to kiss people’s hands out of reverence, or because one is old, or because one is a scholar, leaving this off is better.

The presenter: May Allah bless you, may Allah reward you with good.