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:

Assalamoalaikum

Somwhere I read that to kiss somthing (other than HAJRE ASWAD )IS  sin. i am cofused because parents do kiss their kids. Poeople kiss hands of their respected ones. Elderly cousins do kiss their young cousins ,is it a sin. What is the saying of quran about this.

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Answer:

Kissing something is haraam

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Quran itself is silent about the specific subject of kissing, but there are several examples in the authentic narrations in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

In light of the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), there is absolutely no harm if a parent or grandparent kiss their children and grand-children, or children kiss the hands of their parents and elders, or if elderly cousins kiss their young mehram cousins, etc., as long as the intention is to show love and respect. There are several narrations whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) kissed his beloved daughter Hadrat Fatema (r.a.), his grandchildren Hadrat Hassan (r.a.), Hadrat Hussain (r.a.), etc., and they kissed him.

But to kiss anyone or anything with the intention that the thing or person is Sacred is a sin and not permitted in Islam. For example, if someone kisses an idol, or a grave, or a photo, or a tree, or anything else thinking that it is sacred and divine, it is a sin.

The only thing that is permitted in Islam to kiss is the Black Stone in the Kaabah; and that too because it is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). After the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws) a noble companion of the Prophet said while kissing the Black Stone: “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you, I would not have kissed you."

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan