Kissing the Hands of Our Elders: Allowed?

15 August, 2018

Q I would like to know if it is permissible to kiss the hands of our elders as a sign of respect.

Answer

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

15 August, 2018

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

In this fatwa:

There is nothing wrong in kissing the hands of our elders as a sign of respect.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

There is nothing wrong in doing so as a sign of respect. We read in the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia:

“We are allowed to kiss the hand of a pious scholar, just ruler, the parents, teacher and everyone who deserves respect even as one may kiss their heads, forehead or between the eyes. All of these as long as they are done out of respect and affection while meeting or bidding farewell and as a sign of piety and reverence…free of all feelings of lust or carnal desire.”

Almighty Allah knows best.