#1167: Ruling on Bowing to Greet in Islam
QUESTION:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
My question is.
Is squating while greetings also take the rulings of bowing , leaning and prostrating in Islam?
ANSWER:
Wa alaykumu salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh
Greeting someone by bowing, kneeling or squatting is considered Haram (prohibited) in Islam.
It was narrated that Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa said: when Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal came from Syria, he prostrated to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) who said, “What is this, O Mu‘aadh?” He said, I went to Syria and saw them prostrating to their archbishops and patriarchs, and I wanted to do that for you. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said, “Do not do that. If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no woman can fulfil her duty towards Allah until she fulfils her duty towards her husband.”
(Ibn Maajah) Classified Hasan by al-Albaani rahimahullah.
Based on this hadith, Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said: “With regard to lowering the head before elders such as shaykhs and others, or kissing the ground in front of them, and the like, these are things concerning which there is no dispute among the leading scholars that they are prohibited. ……. Standing up, sitting, bowing and prostrating (which are actions done in the prayer) are due only to the One Who is truly deserving of worship, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Whatever is due exclusively for Allah cannot be directed to anyone or anything else in any way….” Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (27/92-93).
Furthermore, it’s a well-known fact that the companions revered and respected the Prophet alaihi salaam in the highest of forms, but it was never narrated from them that they used to greet the Prophet in any of these forms. Nor was it recorded that the younger companions used to greet the elders or the leaders amongst them in any of these ways.
And Allah Knows Best.
Barakallahu Fikum
Jazakumullahu Khayran
Abū Āsim
13th Jumadalth Thāni, 1443AH.
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