Fatwa ID: 08028

Question: AsSalāmu ʿAlaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

I had a question regarding dapping someone or fist bumping them. Is this allowed in Islam?

I know the Sunnah method of meeting someone is to do musahafah (handshake) and/or mu’anaqah (embrace). But if I fist bump or dap someone instead, would this be regarded as makrūh due to not following the Sunnah method? Or makrūh due to tashabuh (imitating) disbelievers and/or fussaaq (transgressors)?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer: Wa alaykum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

There is nothing against fist-bumping someone in Islam, provided the other person is not a non-Mahram of the opposite gender [1]. Fist bumping is not a substitute for the Sunnah greeting of Salaam, and there is no indication that fist bumping is an act performed exclusively by disbelievers. It is not an act of Ibadah attributed to another religion, nor is it associated with an act of sin. It is merely a greeting and an act of camaraderie that has arisen recently amongst some modern cultures.

And only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) knows best.

Written by: Maulana Yusuf Badshah Checked and approved by: Mufti Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

Fatawa Hindiyyah, vol. 5, pg. 327, Darul Fikr: وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ الرَّجُلُ إلَى الرَّجُلِ إلَّا إلَى عَوْرَتِهِ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ وَعَلَيْهِ الْإِجْمَاعُ، كَذَا فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ شَرْحِ الْمُخْتَارِ. وَعَوْرَتُهُ مَا بَيْنَ سُرَّتِهِ حَتَّى تُجَاوِزَ رُكْبَتَهُ، كَذَا فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ وَمَا دُونَ السُّرَّةِ إلَى مَنْبَتِ الشَّعْرِ عَوْرَةٌ فِي ظَاهِرِ الرِّوَايَةِ، ثُمَّ حُكْمُ الْعَوْرَةِ فِي الرُّكْبَةِ أَخَفُّ مِنْهُ فِي الْفَخِذِ وَفِي الْفَخْذِ أَخَفُّ مِنْهُ فِي السَّوْأَةِ حَتَّى أَنَّ مَنْ رَأَى غَيْرَهُ مَكْشُوفَ الرُّكْبَةِ يُنْكِرُ عَلَيْهِ بِرِفْقٍ وَلَا يُنَازِعُهُ إنْ لَجَّ، وَإِذَا رَآهُ مَكْشُوفَ الْفَخْذِ أَنْكَرَ عَلَيْهِ بِعُنْفٍ، وَلَا يَضْرِبُهُ إنْ لَجَّ، وَإِذَا رَآهُ مَكْشُوفَ السَّوْأَةِ أَمَرَهُ بِسِتْرِ الْعَوْرَةِ وَأَدَّبَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إنْ لَجَّ، كَذَا فِي الْكَافِي.

Fatawa Hindiyyah, vol. 5, pg. 329, Darul Fikr: وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَمَسَّ وَجْهَهَا، وَلَا كَفَّهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَ يَأْمَنُ الشَّهْوَةَ