FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
AL-KAFI #850: HUKUM MENCIUM TANGAN ORANG ALIM
What is the ruling on kissing the hand of a religious scholar?
Short answer
Kissing the hands of scholars and pious people is permissible according to this fatwa, provided it does not go to excess to the point of exalting or sanctifying them.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Kissing the hands of scholars and pious people is permissible according to this fatwa, provided it does not go to excess to the point of exalting or sanctifying them. The majority of Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars permit it, and Imam al-Nawawi considers it recommended when done for piety or knowledge, but strongly disliked when done for wealth or worldly status. Imam Malik prohibited it out of concern for arrogance, though Ibn Hajar explains the dislike applies to acts intended to glorify a person, not to those intended to draw closer to Allah because of religion and knowledge. The fatwa adopts the permissible view based on the many hadiths and reports from the Companions and the majority of jurists.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Kesimpulannya, kami berpandangan hukum mencium tangan para ulama, orang-orang soleh, para awliyaa' dan orang-orang ialah harus, dengan syarat tidak terlampau berlebih-lebihan sehingga ke tahap mengagungkan dan mengkuduskan mereka.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #850: HUKUM MENCIUM TANGAN ORANG ALIM”, 16 October 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2675-al-kafi-850-hukum-mencium-tangan-orang-alim. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-kissing-hand-of-scholar/