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Question

Is kissing the hands of pious, Aalim (scholar), old and elderly allowed in Islam. This includes aunts, uncles, and also distant aunts and uncles.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

There is no objection to kiss the hands of scholars, parents and other pious and righteous people.

Ath-Thahabi and Ibn Hajar said: “Zayd Ibn Thabit mounted a horse. Ibn ‘Abbas grabbed its stirrup (to help him). Zayd said: “Do not do that o cousin of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).Ibn ‘Abbas said: “We were ordered to act like that with our scholars”. Thereupon Zayd kissed his hand and said, “This is how we were ordered to deal with the family of our Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

Abu Dawood and Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al Mufrad reported from Zarra Ibn Amir who was a member of the delegation of Abd Al-Qays, who said: “We got down off our camels rushing to kiss the hands and feet of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

Ahmad, An-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah reported from Muaawiyah As-Sulami that he came to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) seeking permission to go on Jihad and he mentioned the Hadeeth which includes: “…. Is your mother alive? He replied: ‘Yes’. He said to him: "Stick to her foot. Indeed Paradise is there.” Ibn ‘Abideen said: 'Perhaps what is meant is kissing her feet.' Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami mentioned that ‘Ali kissed the hand and foot of ‘Abbas and said: “O dear uncle, be satisfied with me.” There are numerous proofs to this.

Allah knows best.

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