What is the ruling on bowing to elders in a manner that differs from ritual bowing (rukuʿ) and prostration (sujud), and is it permissible in Islam?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is forbidden to bow, prostrate, or prostrate to anyone. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, disliked the Companions standing for him and forbade bowing to greet a brother or friend, permitting handshaking instead. As for kneeling before a sitting person rather than a standing one, there is no harm in it if it is devoid of glorifying that person, and this occurred among the Companions before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/25360
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 25360
- 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