Kissing of Hands and Feet

The following Ahadith confirm the fact that kissing of hands and feet of Awliya Allah and Shuyooks is Sunnah.

1. It is in Hadith - Umm Aban, daughter of al-Wazi ibn Zari narrated that her grandfather Zari al-Abdi, who was a member of the delegation of Abd al-Qays, said: “When we came to Medina, we raced to be first to dismount and kiss the hand and foot of Allah’s Apostle  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). But al-Mundhir al-Ashajj waited until he came to the bundle of his clothes. He put on his two garments and then he went to the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

   Abu Dawud narrates the above Hadith  in his Sunan, book of Adab (vol. 4, p. 357 # 5225). Bayhaqiin the Sunan (7:102).   At-Tayalisi in his Musnad. Al-Bazzar in his Musnad (3:278). Al-Haithaminarrated it. Ibn al-Muqri narrated it in his Kitab ar-Rukhsa, p. 80 #20.

   Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari (1989 ed. 11:67 Isti’dhan ch. 28 #6265) said: “Among the good narrations in Ibn al-Muqri’s book, is the Hadith of al-Zari al-Abdi.”

   Ibn Abd al-Barr declared it Hassan, al-Mundhiriconfirmed it in Mukhtasar al-Sunan (8:86) and declared it Hasan.

   Tabarani declared it Sahih in two of his books: al-Mujam al-Kabir (vol. 5, p. 275 # 5313); and al-Mujam al-Awsat (vol. 1, p. 133 # 418).

   Imam Bukhari has devoted a chapter on kissing the feet in his famous book 'al-Adab al-Mufrad'. He has reported the  above Hadith from Wazi ibn Aamir(رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), who was part of the delegation, in the following words on page number 339, Hadith number 975.

   Imam Bukhari reports -  It is reported by Zari ibn Aamir who came to  Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) along with delegation of Abul Qays -   قَدِمْنَا فَقِيْلَ: ذَاکَ رَسُوْلُ  اﷲِ صلی الله عليه وآله وسلم. فَأَخَذْنَا بِيَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ نُقَبِّلُهَا [Meaning - We came to Madina, (we) were told: That was the Holy Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). So we enveloped the blessed hands and feet of the Holy Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and began to kiss them].

    

2. It is in Hadith - Suhayb  (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) was the freed slave of Abbas  (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) He states: رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا يُقَبِّلُ يَدَ الْعَبَّاسِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَيَقُوْلُ: يَا عَمِّ ارْضَ عَنِّي - ( Meaning - I saw Ali  (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) kissing the hands and feet of Abbas  (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)and he would keep saying this: O my Uncle! be pleased with me). 
   

   Imam Bukhari narrated the above Hadith in al-Adab al-Mufrad (p. 339 # 976).

   It is also reported by ad-Dhahabi in Siyar Alam an-Nubala (vol. 2, p. 94); Mizzi reported it in Tahdhib al-Kamal (vol. 13, p. 240 # 2905); and Muqri in Taqbil al-Yad (p. 76 # 15).

    

3. It is in Hadith - Narrated Safwan bin Assal (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)Once, two Jews came to Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)and asked him a question. The Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)answered them. Thereafter, they kissed the hands and feet of the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and told him that they bear testimony that he is Nabi. ( فَقَبَّلُوْا يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ. وَقَالُوا: نَشْهَدُ أَنَّکَ نَبِيٌّ )  
   

   The above Hadith is narrated by Nasai in as-Sunan (vol. 7, p. 111 # 4078). Ibn Maja in as-Sunan (vol. 2, p. 1221 # 3705). Tirmidhi in as-Sunan (vol. 5, pp. 77, 305 # 2733, 3144). Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in al-Musnad (vol. 4, pp. 239, 240). Hakim in al-Mustadrak (vol. 1, p. 52 # 20). Tayalisi in al-Musnad (p. 160 # 1164). And Maqdisi in al-Ahadith al-Mukhtara (vol. 8, p. 29 # 18).

4. Ibn Kathir, the Famous student of  Ibn Taymiyya writes a Hadith in the exegesis of verse 101, Sura Al-Maida that Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) got annoyed over something:

   فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه فَقَبَّلَ رِجْلَهُ وَقَالَ: يَا رَسُوْلَ اﷲِ، رَضِيْنَا بِاﷲِ رَبًّا وَبِکَ نَبِيًّا وَبِالإِْسْلَامِ دِيْنًا وَبِالْقُرْآنِ إِمَامًا فَاعْفُ عَنَّا عَفَا اﷲُ عَنْکَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِهِ حَتَّی رَضِيَ.

   “Then Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) stood up and kissed the blessed feet of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and said: O'Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), we are pleased with Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) being Sustainer, you being the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), Islam being the Deen and the Holy Quran being the Guide. Forgive us.  Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) would further be pleased with you. So Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) kept on saying it till the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) became pleased."

5. It is in Hadith - Bukhari narrates it in his Sahih : al-Zuhri said: Anas bin Malik told me: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) came out after the sun passed the mid-point of the sky and offered the Zuhr prayer (in congregation). After finishing it with Taslim, he stood on the pulpit and mentioned the Hour and mentioned there would happen great events before it. Then he said, "Whoever wants to ask me any question, may do so, for by Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی), you will not ask me about anything but I will inform you of it as long as I am at this place of mine." The people were weeping profusely (because of the Prophet's - صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم  - anger). Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) kept saying, "Ask Me! " Then a man got and asked, ''Where will my entrance be, O Allah's Apostle(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)?" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, "The Fire." Then Abd Allah ibn Hudhafa got up and asked, Who is my father, O'Allah's Apostle(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)?" The Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) replied, "Your father is Hudhafa." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) then kept on saying (angrily), "Ask me! Ask me!" `Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)then fell to his knees and said, "We have accepted Allah(سبحانہ و تعا لی) as our Lord and Islam as our religion and Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) as our Apostle." Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) became quiet when Umar(رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said that. Then Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, "Woe! By Him in Whose Hand my life is, Paradise and Hell were displayed before me just now, across this wall while I was praying, and I never saw such good and evil as I have seen today."

6. Muslim narrates the above Hadith in  (Kitab al-fada'il) adds: "There was no harder day on the Companions than that day."

   Bukhari narrates it in the third chapter of Kitab al-i`tisam bi al-kitab wa al-sunna; also in Kitab al-`ilm, chapters 28 and 29 (English: Volume 1, Book 3, Number 90-93), and in Kitab mawaqit al-salat, chapter 11: (Volume 1, Book 10, Number 515).

   Tabari narrates it in mursal  through al-Suddi in hisTafsir in commenting on verse 5:101

   Ibn Hajar in his commentary on the collated accounts of this Hadith (Fath al-Bari 1989 ed. 13:335)  said "there is evidence in this Hadith for (the following issues)".

   1. (a) The Companions' close observation of the states of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and the intensity of their fear when he became angry, lest it result in a matter that would become generalized and extend to all of them.

   2. (b) Umar's (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) confidence in the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) love.

   3. (c) The permissibility of kissing the foot of a person.

   4. (d) The permissibility of anger in exhortation.

   5. (e) The student's kneeling in front of the one who benefits him.

   6. (f) The follower's kneeling before the one followed if he asks him for a certain need.

   9. (g) The lawfulness of seeking refuge from dissension when something occurs which might result in its fore shadowing.

   10. (h) The use of pairing (subjects) in dua in (Umar-رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) words: Forgive (us), and Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) will be further pleased with you (fa'fu  af 'allahu  anka)."

7. It is in Hadith - Imam Muqri quoted Burayda (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) as reported in his Book 'Taqbil al-Yad' (p. 64 # 5) that once a Bedouin came to Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). He said: I have embraced Islam but I want more so that my faith should be strengthened. Then the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)allowed him and a tree came to the Bedouin on his call and the tree said: O' Prophet of Allah(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). (There is a long tradition that follows it).The Bedouin saw all of these signs and said - يا رسول الله! أئذن لي أن أقبل رأسك ورجلك-  (Meaning - O' Prophet of Allah ((صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)! Allow me to kiss your blessed forehead and blessed feat).  The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) gave permission to the Bedouin. Then he requested for falling in prostration. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) did not allow him.

   Above Hadith is reported by Qadi Iyad in ash-Shifaa', 1:299; al-Bazzaar, Musnad, 3:49, Ibn Hajar Asqalanihas also narrated the above Hadith in Fath al-Bari (vol. 11, p. 57).

8. It is in Hadith - Hakim narrated  on the authority of Buraidah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) that a person came to Prophet Mohammad    (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and kissed his blessed hands and feet. (Al-Hakim - al Mustadrak).

9. It is in Hadith - It is narrated that in the battle of Hunain, Abu Sufyaan (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) was with Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).   Hadhrat Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)submitted,  “O'Prophet of Allah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), this is your cousin, Abu Sufyaan (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), please be happy with him.” Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) accepted the intercession of Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) and said, “I am pleased with him. May Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) forgive all the enmity he showed against us.” Thereafter, Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) turned to Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) and said, “Verily he is our brother.”    Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said “I kissed his (Prophet's - صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) blessed foot while he was seated on his camel.” (Hakim reported this Hadith in his Mustadrak, under chapter 'Virtues of Abu Sufayaan (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)'.

10. When Imam Bukhari came to Nishapur, the city of Imam Muslim's residence, he (Imam Muslim) came out to see him. It is reported in almost in every book of  the biography of Imams that Imam Muslim kissed the forehead of Imam Bukhari and then requested his permission to kiss his feet in these words -دعني حتی أقبّل رجليک، يا أستاذ الأستاذين وسيد المحدّثين وطبيب الحديث في علله (Meaning - O Teacher of teachers, Master of Hadith scholars and  Doctor of Ahadith Authenticity, allow me to kiss your feet.”

    The above is reported by Ibn Nuqta in 'at-Taqyid li Marifa Ruwat as-Sunan wal-Masanid' (vol. 1, p. 33);ad-Dhahabi in  Siyar Alam an-Nubala (vol. 12, p. 432, 436); Nawawi in 'Tahdhib al-Asma wal-Lughat' (vol. 1, p. 88); and Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Muqaddima Fath al-Bari (p. 488).

11. It is in Hadith - A man came to  Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and told him that he had taken a vow that should Allah(سبحانہ و تعا لی)   grant Rasoolullah  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)victory over Makka, he would go to Kaaba and kiss itsthreshold.  The   Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) instructed him: 'Go and kiss the feet of your mother. Your vow will be complete.' (Allama Aynee - Umdat al Qari, sharah al-Bukhari).

12. It is in Hadith - Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)  that the Sahabah (رضئ اللھ تعالی عنہم اجمعین ) kissed the blessed hands of Prophet Mohammad  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) (Abu Dawood).

13. It is in Hadith -  Ashbah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) went to the court of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), held his (Prophet -صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)hand and kissed it.  Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, "In you there are two habits which are dear to  Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)" (Bukhari - Adab al Mufrad).

14.   It is in Hadith Narrated by Ummul Momineen Aisha(رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) who said: When the Messenger of Allah  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) entered her home, she stood up to welcome him and kissed his blessed hand. (Abu Dawood).  
    

15. It is in Hadith - Tabarani narrates from Kab bin Malik(رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). When Prophet Mohammad    (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) came to him, he held the hand of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and kissed it. (Tabarani). 
    
16. It is in Hadith  -  Ibn Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, I was on an expedition. Some people began to flee and I was amongst them. We said, “What will we do now, we fled the battlefield and earned the anger of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی).  Then we thought of returning to Madina and presenting ourselves to Prophet Mohammad    (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) thinking to ourselves that if our repentance is accepted, then well and good, otherwise we will return. We came to him before the morning prayers. When he came out, he inquired as to who we were. We replied that we are the ones who fled the battlefield. He replied, “Nay, you are the ones who have returned from the battlefield. I am your ‘fiah’ (supporting group) and a ‘fiah’ to all Muslims.” We came to him and kissed his hand. ( Ahmad, Bukhari, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja, Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn al Arabi).
17. It is in Hadith - Tabarani  narrates with a good chain that Salamah bin Akwa (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, “I pledged allegiance at the hands of Prophet Mohammad    (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم)and also kissed his hands.  He did not prohibit me.”  (Tabrani, Mujam al-Awsat).
18. It is in Hadith - Imam al-Ghazzali (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) states that Haddrat Abu Ubaida bin Jarrah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ)kissed the hand of Haddrat Umar Farouk  (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). ( Keemya-e-Sa'adat and Awaariful Mu'aarif ).