💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
📜 Question: Kissing a friend (of the same gender) on their cheek after a long time of separation - is there something wrong with it or no?
📝 Answer: We do not know of any issue with it, although it is better to kiss the area between the person's eyes, nose or the head. Otherwise shaking hands is sufficient. A handshake is enough as a regular form of greeting. It has been narrated about the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam that he kissed in some occasions, that some of his companions RadhiAllahu 'anhum kissed his head or hand, but shaking hands is enough. And if a person kisses between his friend's eyes or above their nose (A custom among some Arabs when greeting) then it is better than kissing them in their cheek, specially if they arrived from travel or the friends have not seen each other in a long time.
It was narrated about the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam that when Ja'far bin Abi Talib RadhiAllahu 'anhu came from Habasha in the year of Khaybar, he kissed him between his eyes. And Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq RadhiAllahu 'anhu when he entered upon 'Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha while she was unwell, he kissed her cheek. So the matter here is vast. A mahram (like the father) can briefly kiss the cheek of his daughter or sister, and kiss the head of his mother or between her eyes, or the head of his grandmother or elder sister, or paternal and maternal aunts, however shaking hands is sufficient.
Similarly when a person meets his friend, he shakes their right hand, as the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If one of you meets their brother then let him greet with the salaam, and if there is between them a tree, or wall, or stone, then let them pass by and then greet with the salaam."
This (frequent exchange of salaams and handshakes) encourages sympathy and harmony, while dispelling estrangement. The noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The Muslim has six rights upon another Muslim: If you meet him, then greet with the salaam; and if he invites you (to a meal or gathering) then respond to his invitation; and if he requests for advice, then advise him; and if he sneezed then thanked Allah, then supplicate (say "YarhamukAllah" meaning 'May Allah have mercy on you'); and if he fell ill, then visit him; and if he died, then follow his funeral."
Anas RadhiAllahu 'anhu reported that the companions of the Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam would shake hands when they met each other, and when they RadhiAllahu 'anhum would arrive from travel they would hug (or embrace) each other.
Fatima RadhiAllahu 'anha also mentioned that when she entered upon her father, he Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam would walk up to her, take her by the hand, lightly kiss her and seat her beside him; and when he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam entered upon her, she would walk up to him, take him by the hand, lightly kiss her father SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and seat him where she was sitting.
And when Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala accepted the Tawbah (repentance) of Ka'b bin Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu and his companions RadhiAllahu 'anhum, and he went to the Masjid where the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was in, with other people around, Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah RadhiAllahu 'anhu (one of the ten who were promised Jannah Paradise) quickly ran to him and shook his hand to congratulate him on having his Tawbah accepted by Allah the Most Forgiving. The companions RadhiAllahu 'anhum shook the hand of the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and vice versa.
Therefore frequently exchanging salaams and offering handshakes are from the Sunnah of the beloved Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam. As for kissing when someone has arrived from travel or from a long period of absence, then
Inn-sha-Allah there is no problem with kissing the area between their eyes, their forehead or above their head, and among mahrams kissing the cheek or head.
(Allah the Almighty knows best.)
From the Fataawa of sheikh AbdulAziz Ibn Baz (May Allah have mercy on him. Ameen.)
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📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, when a man among us meets his brother or friend, should he bow for him?” The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “No.” The man said, “Should he embrace him and kiss him?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “No.” The man said, “Should he shake his hand?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Yes."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2728
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani
📖 Hudhayfah Ibn Al-Yaman RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, when the believer meets another believer, greets him with peace, and shakes his hand, the sins of them both will shed like leaves falling from a tree."
Source: Al-Muʻjam Al-Awsaṭ 253
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: If the companions of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam met each other, they would shake hands. If they had returned from a long journey, they would embrace each other.
Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsaṭ 97
Grade: Jayyid (Very good) according to Al-Albani
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/12545/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%AF
