Kissing one’s children

QUESTION:

Is it a sunnah for a parent to kiss their children on the forehead when greeting each other, and vice versa? Is there a sunnah method for the parent and child to greet each other?

ANSWER:

Kissing one’s children is proven from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ الأَقْرَعَ بْنَ حَابِسٍ، أَبْصَرَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُ الْحَسَنَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْوَلَدِ مَا قَبَّلْتُ وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِنَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمْ لاَ يُرْحَمْ ‏”‏‏)‏البخاري # 5997)

Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu reports that Aqra’ bin Habis Radiallahu Anhu saw Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam kissing Hasan Radiallahu Anhu and said, “I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them.” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”

 جاء أعرابيٌّ إلى النَّبيِّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم فقال: أتُقبِّلونَ الصِّبيانَ ؟ فما نُقبِّلُهم فقال رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم:  وما أملِكُ لك أنْ نزَع اللهُ الرَّحمةَ مِن قلبِك(صحيح ابن حبان # 5595)

 A Bedouin came to Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and asked: Do you kiss your children as we do not kiss them? Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your hearts.”

 قَالَ بن بَطَّالٍ يَجُوزُ تَقْبِيلُ الْوَلَدِ الصَّغِيرِ فِي كُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِنْهُ وَكَذَا الْكَبِيرُ عِنْدَ أَكْثَرِ الْعُلَمَاءِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عَوْرَةً  (فتح الباري لابن حجر العسقلاني 10/430)

The commentator of Bukhari Sharif Ibn Battal Rahimahullah states that kissing a small child on any of his body parts is permissible and the same is applicable to a little older child according to most scholars, with the proviso that it is not the child’s Awrah (private parts.)

 Allama Shaami Rahimahullah has written that it is permissible to kiss one’s children, with the proviso that there is no fear of impermissible desire being created from either side. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would kiss Fatimah Radhiallahu Anha on her head, which is clear proof of kissing one’s child on the head. Similarly, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Whoever kisses the feet of his mother, it is as if he has kissed the threshold of Jannah.”

(وما حل نظره) مما مر من ذكر أو أنثى (حل لمسه) إذا أمن الشهوة على نفسه وعليها لأنه – عليه الصلاة والسلام – كان يقبل رأس فاطمة وقال – عليه الصلاة والسلام -: من قبل رجل أمه فكأنما قبل عتبة الجنة (الدر

المختار و حاشية ابن عابدين 6/367)

 In conclusion, kissing one’s child on the forehead is proven from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Similarly, the text of Shaami indicates that there is no harm if a child kisses the parent or any other Mahram on the forehead, with the proviso that there is no fear of Fitnah on either side.

Re: – Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Vol.7 Pg.473

Re: – Kitaab-un-Nawaazil Vol.15 Pg.139

 ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date:-  07 Muharram 1444 / English Date: 26 July 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb