excerpt from “Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshnī Mein” by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī:
Question:
What is the ruling, in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, regarding bowing while greeting elders, standing up out of respect for teachers, or shaking hands with both hands?
Answer:
✿ Bowing at the time of salām is impermissible, as it resembles rukūʿ (bowing) which is exclusively for Allah ﷻ. Furthermore, it is not reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or the Companions رضي الله عنهم that they would bow to one another during greetings.
✿ Similarly, standing up for someone out of respect or honor, as is commonly done today for teachers or elders upon their arrival, is not allowed.
Sayyidunā Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَمْثُلَ لَهُ الرِّجَالُ قِيَامًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ"
“Whoever is pleased that people stand for him out of respect, let him take his seat in the Fire.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Dislike of Standing for a Man, 2755]
This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ (authentic).
Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
”مَا كَانَ شَخْصٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَكَانُوا إِذَا رَأَوْهُ لَمْ يَقُومُوا لِمَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِنْ كَرَاهِيَتِهِ لِذَلِكَ“
“There was no person more beloved to the Companions than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Yet, when they saw him, they would not stand up, knowing that he disliked it.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Dislike of Standing for a Man, 2754]
Imām al-Tirmidhī graded this ḥadīth as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
◈ However, walking forward to receive someone, standing to welcome them, and seating them properly is permissible.
This is evident from when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ summoned Saʿd bin Muʿādh رضي الله عنه to judge over Banū Qurayẓah. When he approached, the Prophet ﷺ said to the Anṣār:
"قُومُوا إِلَى سَيِّدِكُمْ"
“Stand for your leader.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Isti’dhān, Bāb: The Prophet ﷺ Saying ‘Stand for Your Chief’ 6262]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād, Bāb: Permissibility of Fighting Those Who Break Treaties, 1768]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used his right hand during both handshakes and pledges of allegiance (bayʿah).
For further details, refer to Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī (3/397).
As for the narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (6265) wherein the Prophet ﷺ taught ʿAbdullāh bin Masʿūd رضي الله عنه the tashahhud and his fingers were between the palms of the Prophet ﷺ — this was for instructional emphasis, not a regular handshake. If taken as a rule, it would mean that:
➤ the younger must use one hand,
➤ and the elder must use both hands during a greeting — which is not established from the Sunnah.
Question:
What is the ruling, in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, regarding bowing while greeting elders, standing up out of respect for teachers, or shaking hands with both hands?
Answer:
✿ Bowing at the time of salām is impermissible, as it resembles rukūʿ (bowing) which is exclusively for Allah ﷻ. Furthermore, it is not reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or the Companions رضي الله عنهم that they would bow to one another during greetings.
✿ Similarly, standing up for someone out of respect or honor, as is commonly done today for teachers or elders upon their arrival, is not allowed.
Sayyidunā Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَمْثُلَ لَهُ الرِّجَالُ قِيَامًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ"
“Whoever is pleased that people stand for him out of respect, let him take his seat in the Fire.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Dislike of Standing for a Man, 2755]This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ (authentic).
Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
”مَا كَانَ شَخْصٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَكَانُوا إِذَا رَأَوْهُ لَمْ يَقُومُوا لِمَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِنْ كَرَاهِيَتِهِ لِذَلِكَ“
“There was no person more beloved to the Companions than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Yet, when they saw him, they would not stand up, knowing that he disliked it.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb: Dislike of Standing for a Man, 2754]Imām al-Tirmidhī graded this ḥadīth as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
◈ However, walking forward to receive someone, standing to welcome them, and seating them properly is permissible.
This is evident from when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ summoned Saʿd bin Muʿādh رضي الله عنه to judge over Banū Qurayẓah. When he approached, the Prophet ﷺ said to the Anṣār:
"قُومُوا إِلَى سَيِّدِكُمْ"
“Stand for your leader.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Isti’dhān, Bāb: The Prophet ﷺ Saying ‘Stand for Your Chief’ 6262] [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād, Bāb: Permissibility of Fighting Those Who Break Treaties, 1768]❖ Ruling on Handshake with Both Hands
The term muṣāfaḥah (مصافحہ) in Arabic refers to joining the flat of one hand to the other person’s hand. Once the palms are connected, the handshake is complete.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used his right hand during both handshakes and pledges of allegiance (bayʿah).
For further details, refer to Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī (3/397).
As for the narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (6265) wherein the Prophet ﷺ taught ʿAbdullāh bin Masʿūd رضي الله عنه the tashahhud and his fingers were between the palms of the Prophet ﷺ — this was for instructional emphasis, not a regular handshake. If taken as a rule, it would mean that:
➤ the younger must use one hand,
➤ and the elder must use both hands during a greeting — which is not established from the Sunnah.
