Question:
What is the ruling of kissing the hands of a knowledgeable person?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Companions of the Prophet PBUH Kiss the Hands of the Prophet PBUH
There are authentic narrations regarding how the companions of the Prophet PBUH kiss the hands of the Prophet PBUH. From Zari’, he said:
لَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَجَعَلْنَا نَتَبَادَرُ مِنْ رَوَاحِلِنَا فَنُقَبِّلُ يَدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرِجْلَهُ
“When we came to Medina, we raced to be first to dismount and kiss the hand and foot of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).”
Sunan Abu Daud (5225)
From Usamah bin Syuraik, he said:
قمنا إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقبَّلنا يده
“We then came near the Prophet (ﷺ) and kissed his hand.”
Narrated by Ibn al-Muqri’ in Al-Rukhsah fi Taqbil al-Yad, pg. 58. According to Imam Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari (11/57), the sanad for this hadith is good.
It is also narrated that the companions also kiss the hands of each other. Ibn Jad’an narrated:
قَالَ ثَابِتٌ لأَنَسٍ: أَمَسَسْتَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِيَدِكَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَقَبَّلَهَا
Anas was asked, "Did you touch the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with your hand?" He replied, "Yes," so they kissed it.
Sahih al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (974)
Imam al-Baihaqi said:
لَمَّا قَدِمَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ الشَّامَ اسْتَقْبَلَهُ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ فَقَبَّلَ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ خَلَوْا يَبْكِيَانِ قَالَ: فَكَانَ يَقُولُ تَمِيمٌ: " تَقْبِيلُ الْيَدِ سُنَّةٌ
“When ‘Umar RA arrive in Syria, Abu Ubaidah al-Jarrah welcome him and kisses his hands, then they walk away while both of them are crying. Tamim said: “Kissing hands is a sunnah.”
Al-Sunan al-Kubra (13585)
Ibnu al-Muqri’ narrated that Ali RA one kissed the hands of al-‘Abbas and the sanad of this narration is accepted by Imam Ibn Hajar. (Refer Al-Rukhsah fi Taqbil al-Yad, pg. 73 and Fath al-Bari, 11/57)
The Ruling of Kissing the Hands of Scholars and Pious People
The scholars have differing opinions regarding this issue:
- Permissible and encouraged
The majority of scholars of madhab Hanafi, Syafi’e and Hanbali ruled it permissible.
According to al-Zaila’ie, Imam al-Sarakhshi and contemporary scholars, it is permissible to kiss the hands of pious people and scholars with the intention of tabarruk. While according to Sufyan al-Thauri, it is sunnah. (Refer Tabyin al-Haqa`iq Syarh Kanz al-Daqa`iq, 6/25) Imam al-Haskafiy states that it is not impermissible to kiss the hands of a judge who follows the religion and a fair and just leader, where he states that it is sunnah. (Refer Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 6/383)
According to Imam al-Nawawi, it is sunnah to kiss the hands of a person who are pious, zuhud, knowledgeable and others of those who are among the people who prioritize their hereafter. Consequently, kissing the hands of a person because of wealth, position and worldly gains is profoundly makruh (undesirable). (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 4/636; and Raudhah al-Thalibin, 10/236)
Imam al-Buuhuti al-Hanbali ruled kissing the hands and head as permissible for it is a sign of respect and with the intention of honouring someone. (Refer Kasyaf al-Qina’, 2/157)
- Prohibited
Imam Malik prohibits kissing the hands of anyone, even if it is the hands of one’s father, owner or husband. The reason is, it is the practise of the ‘ajam and may lead to arrogance and conceitedness. (Refer Kifayatu al-Thalib, 2/475; dan Al-Fawakih al-Diwani, 2/326)
However, according to Imam Ibn Hajar, Imam Malik dislikes the act if it is done to glorify and praise someone excessively. However, if it is done to get closer to Allah SWT for religion, knowledge and honour, then it is permissible. (Refer Fath al-Bari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari, 11/57)
Furthermore, Imam al-Qurthubi also said that it is impermissible to shake hands (or offer to shake hands), followed by a bow and kissing of hands. Bowing to someone symbolizes the humbling of one’s heart towards Allah SWT. As for the act of kissing the hands, it is the act of ‘ajam (non-Arabs) to honour their parents. (Refer Tafsir al-Qurthubi, 9/266)
Conclusion
As a conclusion, in our opinion kissing the hands of the scholars, pious and awliyaa’ is permissible, on the condition that it is not done excessively until it reached a stage of glorifying and idolizing them.
This is in accordance with numerous hadiths and athar of the companions of the Prophet PBUH who practised it as well as the opinion of the majority of scholars who ruled it permissible to kiss the hands of honoured people, especially in terms of their knowledge and piety.
Wallahua’lam.