Permissibility of giving salaam while touching their feet
As-salamu alaykum i was wondering if you could tell if it is haram to salaam someone while going down and touching their feet.
-azizur59
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Salaams,
It is difficult to answer your question without you explaining the reason why you would be touching another person's feet while greeting them with Salaams. As far as I am aware, if you are giving salaams to someone who is non-mahram you should not touch them at all anywhere for any reason. However, I am also aware that certain students who esteem a shaykh may show signs of respect to him by bowing the head or other acts of deference. If you respect someone highly, such as a father or elder or teacher, and you want to show respect to them by lowering yourself to their feet out of the purest intentions, I do not believe any scholar would say this is haraam.
-Amy
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Assalaamu alaikum.
I think its best to avoid this custom.
I agree with the comment about non-mahrams above and I am not 100% sure of the answer to this questions - don't mean to confuse matters but personally I think it should not be practiced. Bowing ones head before anyone other than Allah swt should not be done. Also as far as I am aware touching ones feet is a hindu custom and it should be avoided. Whether it is islamically haraam, I am not sure. There are many other ways to show respect. We should follow the sunnah in such a way so shake hands as long as it is not with a non mahram. Give salaam to them before they give salaam to you. Treat them well etc.
Sara
IslamicAnswers.com Editor.
This may or may not help the discussion:
Riyadh-us-Saliheen,889.
Safwan ibn ‘Assal said, “A Jew said to his companion, ‘Let us go to this Prophet.’ So they went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and asked him about nine clear signs,” and he mentioned the hadith to its end. “They kissed his hand and feet and said, ‘We testify that you are a Prophet.’” [taken from Tirmidhi]
Imam Bukhari’s Adab Al-Mufrad,975.
Al-Wazi’ ibn ‘Amir said, “We came and were told, ‘That is the Messenger of Allah.’ We took his hands and feet and kissed them.” Al-Mufrad,976….Suhayb said, “I saw ‘Ali kiss the hands and feet of al-’Abbas.
Abu Dawud : Book 41 : 5206
Narrated al-Wazi’ ibn Zari’:
Umm Aban, daughter of al-Wazi’ ibn Zari’, quoting his grandfather, who was a member of the deputation of AbdulQays, said: When we came to Medina, we raced to be first to dismount and kiss the hand and foot of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him).
But isn't this also similar to some Indian/Hindu culture? I would avoid it. We really can't go down to anyone but Allah. Just like how we can't bow to others in Japanese culture even if it seems harmless. It's better to avoid things like this because the last thing you want to do is commit shirk without knowing it!
I think sister Amy's references should be useful for you, azizur.
Also note that, kissing takes place for various reasons. Amongst others are the following:
1) Lust and passion. There is consensus amongst all Scholars that this type of kissing is permissible only for one’s spouse. It is not permissible to kiss any other person for this reason. This is irrespective whether a person kisses on the head, face or hands.
2) Compassion. An example of this is the kissing of the mother to her child on the face or head.
3) Honour and respect. This is where a person kisses the hands of a scholar, elder or just ruler.
Kissing for compassion and honour is both permissible and established from Ahadith.
Your right that bowing down and kissing feet of someone whilst giving salam is prevalent in the indo-pak continant but how did it get there. Who is imitating who??
In the past many students of scared knowledge would kiss the hand or feet of their shaykh, purely out of respect, it depends on your intention.
Have a read of this, it may help clarify this for you.
http://www.cifiaonline.com/kissingofhandsfeet.htm
If this is sunnah shouldn't more people do it? I know it is a sign of respect but it seems a little odd for me. Especially that we have to bow down in order to do it. Is it okay if we do not do this? I want to bow down to only Allah. If I do not do this, am I going against my religion by not following the sunnah assuming that this is sunnah? I love & respect my parents but can I show it in some other way instead of doing this?
Why would you want to touch some ones feet apart from say cutting you elderly mother or fathers toe nails which i have happily done, their are so many ways to show respect to people without touching them, plz dont copy this hindu custom.
Zeena, please look at the above hadith quoted by Amy. You are critisizing the sunnah of the prophet. The only person that muslims copy is our last and final prophet pbuh.
Obviously it was an Arab custom of that time. You will notice from reading the ahadith that the Prophet (sws) never did this himself (it would not be suitable for a Prophet of Allah to kiss anyone's feet), but others sometimes did it to him, as a way of honoring him and showing him respect.
We have to be careful about drawing broad conclusions from a hadith. Just because people did it to the Prophet, does not mean that we should do this to others. He was the Messenger of Allah (sws), the best of creation, protected by Allah from sin and wrongdoing. If he was worthy of such an honor, that does not mean that others are worthy as well.
It's also important to note that the Prophet never demanded or requested such obeisance. One who demands it is not worthy of it. Nor did he ever advise the Muslims to do it.
I would avoid it.
And Allah knows best.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Brother this was done to are Prophet (as) but not by him. i agree with brother wael
Brothers & Sisters, I don't know of any example from Quran where a man is prostrating before a man. But, Angels have prostrated before man. Still they didn't commit shirk as they are free from sins.What kind of Sajda was that? Off-course it could not have been Worship. It means prostraton can have many forms.It can also mean respect and acknowledgement of the fact that someone is superior.What say?
Allah Knows Best
That's an interesting point. I study a Japanese martial art, and in traditional Japanese culture everyone bows. At the beginning and end of class, the students prostrate before the master, who prostrates to the students at the same time. I'm not quite comfortable with it, and each time I quietly whisper, "Laa ilaha il-Allah" as I do it. But it's obviously not worship, since we are bowing to each other. It is a show of respect. If I were the instructor I would eliminate it anyway, but since I am only a student I must follow their tradition.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
I find this strange as well because my sister is taking Korean classes and they bow to eachother as a sign of respect. She doesn't know what to do because if she doesn't bow to them, when she goes to Korea, then they will think she is rude because it is considered highly impolite not to bow to elders, strangers, etc. She wants to do it but at the same time she believes that she shouldn't bow to anyone but Allah during ruku in salah.
But the Angels bowing to Adam, wasn't that an order from Allah that they could never refuse? It was also a test for Iblis. But does it make it okay for us to do it unless Allah specifically orders us to? But doesn't Allah want us to bow down to Him only? I am so confused 🙁
As far as I know there is no commandment not to bow to anyone except Allah. If I am wrong, anyone please correct me. Of course we should only bow to Allah in worship, but as far as the polite bows that are used in East Asia as a way of greeting, I see nothing wrong with it. It's just a mutual show of respect.
In fact, for Muslims living in those countries it's good. In the West, religious Muslims always worry about having to shake hands with people of the opposite gender. In East Asia, that's not an issue. Everyone bows.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Salaams,
Salaams,
The way I always understood the angels bowing to Adam event was that there truly was a type of "glory" (if you will) that Allah created mankind to have. As such, showing honor to a creation with that type of special status would be appropriate. Our senior editor Wael has an article on Islamicsunrays.com that illustrates what a wonderful creation we are as humans entitled , "you are perfectly created". It may be that when some are "showing honor" to others by bowing etc as a sign of respect and value, the ultimate tribute is actually being paid to Allah by recognizing Him for the incomprehensible wisdom and beauty He demonstrated in creating us as He did.
Just my thoughts, Allah certainly knows best. May He guide us to submit fully and only to Him in every way that most pleases Him.
-Amy
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A man said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah , when one of us meets his friend, can he bow to him?’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Can he hug him and kiss him?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Can he shake hands with him?’ He said , ‘Yes, if he wishes.’” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2728; he said it is a hasan hadeeth. Also narrated by Ibn Maajah. 3702. The hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 160).