Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikum brother,

I have one question related to Haj which I did not find it in the website.

The question is, in India, it has become a customary that once people return from Haj, they kiss their forehead and hand thinking that they would have touched the kaaba and other sacred place and to seek the same pleasure they do it.

Is this correct?

Jazak Allah Khair

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Kiss forehead after hajj

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.610 Narrated by Ibn Abbas and Aisha

Hadrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r.a.) kissed the forehead of the deceased body of the Prophet (saws).

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 5201 Narrated by Ash-Sha'bi

The Prophet (saws) received Hadrat Ja'far ibn AbuTalib (r.a.), embraced him, and kissed him between both of his eyes (ie. forehead).

There is allowance in the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) and of his noble companions to receive one who is extremely beloved by kissing them on their foreheads; and there is recorded evidence that Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) kissed the forehead of the deceased body of his Noble Leader and Prophet (saws).

In light of the above quoted guidance, there is absolutely no harm if one wishes to kiss the forehead when receiving one’s loved ones……but to make it a custom or a ritual that it is required for one to kiss a returning pilgrims forehead, or to assume or believe that kissing the forehead of a returning pilgrim is akin to touching the Holy Kaaba, etc., is definitely not from the established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan