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Is feet-touching salaam allowed in Shariah for children to greet elders?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Darulifta-Deoband.com
I want to ask that in our society it is very common that children sit in the floor & touch their parent’s feet to make salaam instead of regular method of giving salaam. It is believed that younger should give salaam to elders by sitting & touching the feet. In our Shariah is it allowed to do so?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

(Fatwa: 750/593/D=9/1438)

It is sunnah to say Assalamu Alaikum at the time of first meeting whether some elder one greets to some younger one or vice versa. Avoiding this sunnah method and touching the feet is against the sunnah rather it is creating new way instead of a sunnah or adopting the way of other nations. Thus it should necessarily be given up. The sunnah way of greeting with Assalamu Alaikum should be introduced. The holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said:

افشوا السلام بينكم .

Introduce salam among you.

However, as far as touching the feet is considered, though it is lawful if it does not take the shape of prostration but it is better not to do so. Moreover, touching the feet instead of doing salam is totally against the Shariah.

Allah knows Best!

Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband

This answer was collected from the official ifta website of Darul Uloom Deoband in India.

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