The Ruling on Kissing and Bowing When Greeting
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Question:
A message was received for the program from one of the listening brothers. He says: Zaki Muhammad Mahmoud from the State of Qatar. Our brother is asking three questions. He says: I see some people, when one kisses another, he bows, and perhaps even shakes his hand. Is this method permissible or not?
Answer:
It is not permissible to bend over when greeting, and the prohibition of this was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prohibited it. Although there is some consideration and weakness in the hadith, it is a matter that should not be done. The Sunnah is to greet while standing upright, shaking hands with one’s brother, or embracing him if he has returned from a journey. This is the Sunnah: to shake hands upon meeting. There is no harm in embracing upon arrival from a journey. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shake hands when they met,and they used to shake hands with the Prophet (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him), and Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shake hands when they met, and embrace when they returned from a journey.” And it was reported from him (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) that he said: their sins are removed from them..
This handshaking upon meeting contains great good, and it brings comfort, acquaintance, closeness, and affection, and it removes estrangement. Therefore, it should not be abandoned; rather, one should maintain this practice. There is no need to kiss the hand; leaving off the kiss is better. If it is done occasionally for reasons—such as if the person is a scholar or a ruler whose hand is customarily kissed—then there is no harm in doing it occasionally. However, making it a habit, the least of its states is that it is disliked and should not be made a habit. But if it is done occasionally for certain reasons, there is no harm, and leaving it off is better in all cases.
The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when they met him (peace and blessings be upon him), would shake his hand and not kiss it. Sometimes some of the Companions would kiss his hand on certain occasions, but these were few instances. What is well-known of them (may Allah be pleased with them)is shaking hands, and this is the most common practice. Kissing his hand or foot is a rare thing that came in some hadiths due to reasons for which some of the Companions did it upon his return from a journey.
The conclusion is: the predominant Sunnah is handshaking when greeting and meeting. As for kissing the hand, if it is done occasionally, there is no blame in it for a legitimate Shari'ah interest. However, making it a habit is contrary to the Sunnah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message was received for the program from one of the listening brothers. He says: Zaki Muhammad Mahmoud from the State of Qatar. Our brother is asking three questions. He says: I see some people, when one kisses another, he bows, and perhaps even shakes his hand. Is this method permissible or not?
Answer:
It is not permissible to bend over when greeting, and the prohibition of this was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prohibited it. Although there is some consideration and weakness in the hadith, it is a matter that should not be done. The Sunnah is to greet while standing upright, shaking hands with one’s brother, or embracing him if he has returned from a journey. This is the Sunnah: to shake hands upon meeting. There is no harm in embracing upon arrival from a journey. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shake hands when they met,and they used to shake hands with the Prophet (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him), and Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shake hands when they met, and embrace when they returned from a journey.” And it was reported from him (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) that he said:
When two Muslims meet and shake hands and seek forgiveness from Allah
إذا التقى المسلمان وتصافحا واستغفرا الله This handshaking upon meeting contains great good, and it brings comfort, acquaintance, closeness, and affection, and it removes estrangement. Therefore, it should not be abandoned; rather, one should maintain this practice. There is no need to kiss the hand; leaving off the kiss is better. If it is done occasionally for reasons—such as if the person is a scholar or a ruler whose hand is customarily kissed—then there is no harm in doing it occasionally. However, making it a habit, the least of its states is that it is disliked and should not be made a habit. But if it is done occasionally for certain reasons, there is no harm, and leaving it off is better in all cases.
The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when they met him (peace and blessings be upon him), would shake his hand and not kiss it. Sometimes some of the Companions would kiss his hand on certain occasions, but these were few instances. What is well-known of them (may Allah be pleased with them)is shaking hands, and this is the most common practice. Kissing his hand or foot is a rare thing that came in some hadiths due to reasons for which some of the Companions did it upon his return from a journey.
The conclusion is: the predominant Sunnah is handshaking when greeting and meeting. As for kissing the hand, if it is done occasionally, there is no blame in it for a legitimate Shari'ah interest. However, making it a habit is contrary to the Sunnah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.