---
layout: post
title: "Is it permissible to bow to greet a Muslim or a non-Muslim?"
publisher: "alsalafiyyah@icloud.com"
source: "Fatawa Al-Lajnah Al-Da'imah of KSA, Fatwa no. 5313, Question 3"
hijri: Muharram 12, 1442
lang: en
locale: en
note: true
category: [fatwas,walabara]
excerpt: "It's not permissible to bow to greet a Muslim or a non-Muslim whether by the upper part of the body or with the head, because bowing is a religious act of worship and 'Ibadah should be devoted to Allah Alone."
muftis:
  chairman: 
    - name: Shaykh Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz
      url: /biography/binbaz/
  deputy_chairman: 
    - name: Shaykh Abdul-Razzaq Al-Afifi
      url: /biography/afifi/
  members: 
    - name: Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Ghudayyan
      url: /biography/ghudayyan/
    - name: Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Qa'ud
      url: /biography/qaud/
---

### Question: 

We joined a karate club in America. The coach said: "You should bow when your opponent bows to you". We refused and explained that this is against our religion. He agreed but said: "You should only gesture by your heads, for an opponent initiates a greeting by bowing and you should greet him back". What is your opinion on this?

### Answer:

It's not permissible to bow to greet a Muslim or a non-Muslim whether by the upper part of the body or with the head, because bowing is a religious act of 'Ibadah (worship) and 'Ibadah should be devoted to Allah Alone.