Question: Would it be okay to say that affectionate physical contact is from the Sunna? If not, is it a sin and how do I repent?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
No, those statements are not sinful, and you do not have to repent. It would probably be more accurate to say that close physical contact with one’s friends, such a holding hands or placing one’s head in someone’s lap was customary expressions of affection in Arab society.
These customs change from time to time and from place to place. Certain people are more open is physical displays of affection than others. This does not have any negative implications, nor it is impermissible. In some societies, a heart handshake is all that is tolerated, and in others, holding the hands of one’s friends of the same gender is seen as normal.
Each society is different and should be judged on its own standards. I hope that helps.
May Allah take us by the hand to His pleasure. Amin.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani