CHAPTER TWENTY

RESPECTING RELICS AND KISSING THE HANDS AND FEET OF THE PIOUS

Kissing the hands and feet of the Friends of Allahعزوجل and their relics (eg. hair, clothes, etc) after their demise, as well as respecting them, is preferable (Mustahab).

This is proven from the Ahadith and the practices of the Sahaaba. However, there are some who refute this.

PROOF OF KISSING SACRED RELICS (T ABARRUKS)

Kissing sacred relics is permissible. The Holy Quran states, "O Bani Israel! Enter the door of Baitul-Muqaddas making Sajda and say, "May our sins be forgiven"." 19.31 - Surah Aaraaj, Verse 161

This verse commands the respect of Baitul-Muqaddas (which is the resting area of the Prophets), ordering the Bani Israel to enter it making Sajda. It is also known from this verse that repentance (tauba) is quickly accepted at sacred places. A Hadith رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, "Hadrat Ziraa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who was present in the delegation of Abdul-Qais, narrates. "When we arrived at Madina, we hastily descended from our rides and began to kiss the hands and feet of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم " 20.1 ­Mishlmat, Baabul-Musaafaha wal-Muanaqa, Section 2

Hadrat Safwaan ibn AsaaI رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, ''They kissed the hands and feet of Sayyiduna Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 20.2 - Mishkaat, Baabul-Kabaair wa Alaamaatin­Nifaaq

In another Hadith, "Sayyidah Aisha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا states, 'The Noble Messengerصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم kissed Uthman ibn Ma'zoon رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ when he passed away," 20.3 - Mishkaat, Baabu Maa Yuqaal inda man Hadarahul-Maut

And Qaadhi Ayaadh رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, "Hadrat Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ used to place his hand and mouth upon (i.e. he used to kiss) the mimbar from which the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to deliver the khutba 20.4 - Shifaa Sharif

It is written in the Sharah of Bukhari by Allama Ibn Hajar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Some Ulama have proven kissing the relics of the pious, etc. based on the kissing of the corners of the Kaaba. Imam Ahmad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was asked, "What is the ruling on kissing the mimbar or Qabr Sharif of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم?" He answered; there is nothing wrong with this." It is reported that Ibn Abu Sinf Yemeni رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, who was an eminent scholar of the Shafee muzhab, said, "Kissing the pages of the Holy Quran, Hadith and the burial places of the Friends of Allahعزوجل is permissible'" - Chapter 6, Pg. 15

Imam Jalaaluddin Suyuti رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, "Some Aarifeen have proven kissing the burial places of the pious from the kissing of Hajar-e-Aswad." 20.6 - Tausheikh

"Hadrat Ziraa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who was present in the delegation of Abdul-Qais, narrates, "When we arrived at Madina, we hastily descended from our rides and began to kiss the hands and feet of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.

These Ahadith and extracts of the Muhadditheen and Ulama prove the permissibility of kissing the hands and feet of the pious, as well as all of their tabarruks, e.g. clothes, shoes, hair, etc. Likewise, kissing the pages of the Quran, Hadith and the Kaaba is allowed and a means of attaining barkat. Actually, respecting the relics of the Saints and attaining assistance from them in wars, problems etc. is proven from the Holy Quran. Allahعزوجل states, 'The Bani Israel's Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to them, "The sign of the kingship of Taloot is that a box (taboot) will come to you. This box will have solace for hearts from your Lord and will contain some things from that which Hadrat Musa علیہ السلام and Hadrat Haarun علیہ السلام have used and left behind. The angels will carry it." 20.7 - Surah Baqarah, Verse 248

Tafseer Khaazin, Roohul-Bayaan, Madaarik, Jalaalain, etc. have said in the commentary of this ayat that taboot was a box made from the wood of the Shamshaad tree (box tree). It contained the pictures of the Prophets (not made by men, but naturally), models of their respective homes, the walking stick of Hadrat Musa علیہ السلام , his shoes and clothes, as well as the walking stick and turban of Hadrat Haarun علیہ السلام. Whenever the Bani Israel went into war, they would place this box in front of them to attain barkat. They even did this when supplicating to Allahعزوجل .Thus, it is clearly proven that attaining guidance (faiz) from the sacred relics of the pious and respecting them is the practice of the Prophet’sصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم,

Under the ayat, “فلما ذھبوا بہ ” 20.8 Tafseer Khaazin, Madaarik, Roohul-Bayaan and Tafseer Kabeer state that when Hadrat Yaqub علیہ السلام sent Hadrat Yusuf علیہ السلام with his brothers, he tied the shirt of Hadrat Ibrahim علیہ السلام as an amulet {ta'weez} around his neck for protection.

Allahعزوجل has created water, but the water of Zarn-Zam is respected because it emerged through the feet of Hadrat Ismail علیہ السلام. When the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim (a stone) attained a connection to Hadrat Ibrahim علیہ السلام, it became so elevated that Allahعزوجل states, “و اتخذوا من مقام ابراھیم مصلی” 20.9 and even made people offer Namaaz by it.

When Makkah became connected to the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Allahعزوجل took an oath on this city. “لا اقسم بھذا البلد و انت حل بھذا البلد” Surah Balad, Verses 1-2

The Holy Quran also رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, “و ھذا البلند الامین” - Surah Teen, Verse 3

Allahعزوجل said to Hadrat Ayub علیہ السلام, “ارکض برجلک ھذا مغتسل بارد و شراب”- Surah Su'oad, Verse 42

The water which emerged from the feet of Hadrat Ayub علیہ السلام became a cure.