Question
I am Bengali and all my life when eid comes or weddings special occasions we would bow down and give salaam by touching their feet and than saying salaam, but I only see this in Bollywood films, so is it shirk to do this or is it OK to do it with the intention of sallam and showing respect to elders?
Wa-sallam
Answer
Shirk is when this type of act is done with the intention of Ibaadah (worship). So such persons will not become a mushrik when worship is not intended, However, without the intention of worship, it would still be disallowed, as it is a form of copying. We should not be copycats. We should use the guidance provided by Allah and His messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Explain to the parent that I will not be able to do this in future, so they also don’t feel bad.