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There are some Muslims who practise karate and have been to Nepal to learn it. When they meet or part with each other, they thank each other in Nepalese and bow down close to the Ruku posture Their institutions teach that it is necessary for them to thank PDF Print E-mail
Imaan and Aqaa'id - Kufr

Thanking or Showing Respect to Someone by Bowing

Q: Imaan-55 : There are some Muslims who practise karate and have been to Nepal to learn it. When they meet or part with each other, they thank each other in Nepalese and bow down close to the Ruku posture Their institutions teach that it is necessary for them to thank each other and show respect in this manner. Is this permissible in the Shari'ah or is it disliked?

Answer: Muslims believe that Allaah is most deserving of all reverence and He is the only One before whom man should place his forehead on the ground. It is for this reason that Islaam has declared it Haraam to make Sajdah before anyone other than Allaah. For this reason, the jurists have stated that it is Makrooh to greet or to show respect to someone by bowing the head like the Ruku posture.

Allaama Shaami RAH. writes, ?Allaam Qahastaani RAH. states in his Zaheeriyyoh that a person becomes a Kaafir by prostrating before any being other than Allaah and Zaahidi states that bowing in a posture resembling Ruku when greeting someone is akin to prostrating to someone (i.e. it is not permissible). It is also stated in Muheet that it is Makrooh Tahreemi for bow before a king or before anyone else." The same is stated in Fataawaa Aalamgeeri (Vol.6 P5.244) .

The bowing that is mentioned in the question is therefore not permissible it is the duty of those learning karate and those who run the institutions to give precedence to the Islaamic teachings over those of others and to forsake the bowing gesture as a condition.

It is, however, necessary to thank anyone who does one a good turn Hadhrat Abu Sa'eed RDI reports that Rasulullaah SAW said, "The one who does not thank people will be unable to thank Allaah."2 While a person may be thanked in many words and languages, it is best t thank in the word taught by Islaam, viz. by saying, "Jazaakallaahu Khayran" ("May Allaah reward you well"). Hadhrat Usaama RDI reports from Rasulullaah SAW. that one has adequately thanked someone who does one a good turn by telling him, " Jazaakallaah Khayran.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah (Vol.1)

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