What is the ruling on kissing the Mushaf?

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Ibnu Hajar al-Haytamiyy stated in his Sharh al-Minhaj: "As-Subkiyy deduced the permissibility of kissing the Mushaf by analogy to kissing the Black Stone, the hand of a scholar, a righteous person, and one’s parent."

It is reported that ^Umar, may Allah accept his deeds, would take the Mushaf each morning, kiss it, and say: “It is my Lord’s covenant, the revelation of my Lord, Mighty and Majestic” (”عَهدُ رَبِّي، وَمَنشُورُ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ”). Likewise, ^Uthman, may Allah accept his deeds, would kiss the Mushaf and pass it over his face, as mentioned by Al-Haskafiyy in Ad-durru l-mukhtar.

Al-Hafidh An-Nawawiyy, in At-Tibyan, stated: "We narrated in the Musnad of Ad-Darimiyy with an authentic chain of narration from Ibnu ‘Abi Mulaykah that ^Ikrimah used to place the Mushaf on his face and say: 'The Book of my Lord, the Book of my Lord.' (كِتَابُ رَبِّي، كِتَابُ رَبِّي)”

^Ikrimah, the son of ‘Abu Jahl, fought against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in every battle before the conquest of Makkah. He was one of the leaders of the disbelievers' armies and among the fiercest enemies of the Messenger ﷺ and his call. Despite this, Allah guided him, and He sealed his end with goodness. He died a martyr in the Battle of Yarmuk, fighting in the army of Khalid ibnu l-Walid, who, in earlier battles, had also fought against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Imam ‘Ahmad used ^Ikrimah's actions as evidence for the permissibility and legitimacy of kissing the Mushaf. Ash-Shafi^iyy said, " After his conversion to Islam, ^Ikrimah endured difficulties and adversities in a praiseworthy manner."

Kissing the Mushaf is permissible as an expression of honour, reverence, and glorification, as well as a means of seeking blessings through it. Therefore, any objections raised by those who reject this practice or similar acts hold no merit.

And Allah, the Exalted, is the most knowledgeable and the wisest, and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Sources

These issues are gathered and summarised from:

• The prophetic Sunnah
• Ad-durru l-mukhtar by Al-Haskafiyy
• At-Tibyan by Imam An-Nawawiyy
• Tuhfatu l-Muhtaj by Ibnu Hajar al-Haytamiyy
• Hashiyatu bni ^Abidin al-Hanafiyy