Is prostrating to other than Allah, such as prostrating as a form of greeting, considered disbelief (kufr) and polytheism (shirk) on the grounds that it is an act of worship that may not be directed to anyone other than Allah?

Prostration is of two types:

1. Prostration of worship ('ibadah): This is for Allah alone. Whoever directs it to other than Allah has committed major shirk (polytheism). 2. Prostration of greeting (tahiyyah): This was permissible in previous divine laws, then Islam came and prohibited it. So, whoever performs it for a created being has committed something forbidden without falling into shirk. This is the view of the majority of scholars.

The assertion that prostration to other than Allah is shirk absolutely is weak. The proofs for this are:

1. Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam, which was a prostration of greeting, not worship. 2. The prostration of Jacob and his sons to Joseph, which was a prostration of greeting. 3. Mu'adh's prostration to the Prophet (peace be upon him), where the Prophet forbade him from doing so without deeming it shirk. 4. The prostration of some animals to the Prophet (peace be upon him), which does not mean they worshipped him. 5. Prostration, in its mere form, is a legislative ruling that may change, unlike the fixed matters of Tawhid (monotheism). 6. Distinguishing between the prostration of greeting and the prostration of worship is the stance of the majority of scholars.

Bowing to greet with the intention of greeting is forbidden, but with the intention of worship, it is disbelief (kufr).