Is it permissible to bow to greet a respected person or parents instead of offering the greeting of "peace" (Salaam)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The usual greeting is "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you). Bowing is not permissible unless the person being greeted is elderly and unable to stand, or one of the parents, to avoid burdening them with standing. This should be accompanied by kissing their head or forehead out of respect, not out of worship. Bowing is an act of veneration for other than Allah the Almighty if it is not accompanied by a handshake or a kiss.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/4110
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 4110
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy