What is the ruling on saying: "My mother, I kiss your hands out of longing, not abasement; I bow to you out of love, not disbelief; for you are my beloved in secret and in public"?
Kissing a mother's hand and being humble towards her are acts of filial piety. There is no harm in the first two phrases [referring to "kissing her hand" and "being humble to her"], but the phrase "I bow down to you" is reprehensible. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade bowing when meeting people, as he was asked: "Should one of us bow down to his brother or friend when he meets him?" He said: "No." He was asked: "Should he take his hand and shake it?" He said: "Yes." Scholars have explicitly stated that bowing is forbidden or disliked. Therefore, bowing upon meeting in the manner of bowing in prayer (rukūʿ) is a forbidden innovation. If bowing reaches the extent of rukūʿ with the intention of glorifying a created being as one glorifies Allah, then it is disbelief (kufr). However, if that is not the intention, scholars have differed between it being forbidden and severely disliked, but prostrating to a created being is forbidden.
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