Ruling on Lowering the Head before Esteemed Shaykhs and Kissing the Ground

Placing one’s head on the ground before eminent shaykhs or any other person, kissing the earth, and similar rituals are unanimously forbidden by the leading jurists. In fact, simply bending one’s back in reverence to anyone other than Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is itself prohibited.

In the Musnad and other collections it is related that when Muʿādh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, returned from al-Shām (Greater Syria), he prostrated before the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet asked, “What is this, Muʿādh?”

Muʿādh replied, “Messenger of Allah, I saw the people of al-Shām prostrating to their bishops and dignitaries, and they claim that this is what their prophets taught them.”

The Prophet said, “They have lied, Muʿādh! Had I been going to command anyone to prostrate to another, I would have commanded a wife to prostrate to her husband, because of the immense right he has over her. Muʿādh, if you were to pass by my grave, would you prostrate?”

He answered, “No.”

The Prophet concluded, “Then do not do it.”