What is the ruling on kissing the cheek for non-spouses, and what is the ruling on exchanging kisses between female friends every morning?
The prescribed action upon meeting is to offer greetings (Salaam) and shake hands. Embracing is prescribed for someone returning from a journey. However, kissing the cheeks at every meeting is not from the , and there are narrations prohibiting it. Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that a man asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, whether he should bow or embrace and kiss his brother. The Prophet forbade him from that and commanded him to shake hands. Exchanging kisses every morning is not prescribed; it is an alien phenomenon, and there is a fear that it could be a pretext for unlawful enjoyment. Al-Nawawi held the view that it is disliked to embrace and kiss the face of someone not returning from a journey, and kissing a handsome beardless youth is forbidden in all circumstances. The Permanent Committee issued a stating that the prescribed action upon meeting is to offer greetings and shake hands, and embracing is for after a journey, and there is no evidence in the Sunnah for kissing the cheeks. Al-Albani held the view that Al-Tirmidhi's is a clear text indicating that kissing upon meeting is not prescribed, with the exception of kissing children and wives.
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Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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