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Yes, it is permissible to kiss the hands of parents, righteous people, scholars, and people of religious knowledge and virtue when it is done out of respect for their knowledge, piety, righteousness, age, parental status, or service to the religion. In some cases, scholars have considered it recommended, provided it is free from exaggeration, flattery, arrogance, or worldly glorification.

There are reports from the early generations supporting the permissibility of this practice. It is narrated from Usāmah ibn Sharīk رضي الله عنه that he said:

“We stood up for the Prophet ﷺ and kissed his hand.”

This was narrated by Abū Bakr ibn al-Muqriʾ in Juzʾ Taqbīl al-Yad. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله said regarding its chain: “Its chain is strong.” He also mentioned several narrations on this subject in Fatḥ al-Bārī and described them as having good chains.

Al-Bayhaqī also narrated in al-Sunan al-Kubrā from Tamīm ibn Salamah that when ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه came to al-Shām, Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ رضي الله عنه received him and kissed his hand, then they withdrew and wept. Tamīm used to say:

“Kissing the hand is Sunnah.”

Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله explained the matter with balance. He said:

“It is recommended to kiss the hand of a righteous man, an ascetic, a scholar, and others from the people of the Hereafter. As for kissing his hand because of his wealth, worldly status, power, or rank among worldly people, then it is severely disliked. Al-Mutawallī said: It is not permissible.”

This is mentioned in al-Majmūʿ.

Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله also discussed the issue in Fatḥ al-Bārī and clarified the position attributed to Imām Mālik رحمه الله. He said:

“Mālik only disliked it when it was done in a manner of arrogance and self-magnification. As for when it is done as an act of drawing near to Allah due to a person’s religion, knowledge, or honour, then that is permissible.”

Thus, the ruling depends greatly on the intention and context. If a student kisses the hand of an ʿālim because of his knowledge, piety, age, or service to Islam, then there is no blame in that. Rather, it may be a form of adab and respect for knowledge. Likewise, kissing the hands of one’s parents is permissible as an expression of honour, gratitude, and humility.

However, this ruling does not override the Islamic limits of gender interaction. Kissing hands is not permissible where it involves touching between non-maḥram men and women, or where it violates the required boundaries of modesty and gender segregation in Islam. Respect for scholars and elders must always remain within the limits of Sharīʿah.

It is also disliked to kiss the hand of someone merely because of wealth, political power, social influence, fame, or worldly status. Such behaviour can become a form of humiliation before worldly people, and it may feed arrogance in the one whose hand is kissed.

As for kissing the face, scholars generally considered it disliked except in certain cases, such as a child or someone returning from travel. Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله mentioned in al-Adhkār that embracing and kissing the face, except in cases involving a child, a traveller returning, or similar cases, is disliked. This is supported by the ḥadīth of Anas رضي الله عنه, where a man asked the Prophet ﷺ: “When one of us meets his brother, should he bow to him?” He said: “No.” The man asked: “Should he embrace him and kiss him?” He said: “No.” The man asked: “Should he take his hand and shake it?” He said: “Yes.” This was narrated by al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah.

At the same time, the scholars and righteous people themselves should be careful not to let such honour create pride in their hearts. If people kiss their hands, they should receive it with humility, not as a sign of personal greatness. Whoever sees himself as great before people while having no real standing before Allah has lost the true meaning of honour. Real honour is in humility before Allah.

In summary: kissing the hand of an ʿālim, righteous person, or parent is permissible and may be recommended when done sincerely for religious virtue, knowledge, piety, or parental honour. It becomes disliked, or even impermissible according to some scholars, when done for wealth, worldly power, fame, or arrogance. It must also remain within the Islamic limits of gender interaction.

And Allah knows best.