How can the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) sucking Hasan’s (ra) tongue and lip be explained?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is permissible to kiss any organs of young children... According to the majority of scholars, it is permissible to kiss any organs of older children except for their private parts. (see Ibn Hajar, Fathul-Bari, 10/427)

Kissing children is a manifestation of affection and compassion. As a matter of fact, once, our Prophet (pbuh) addressed a man who said, “I have never kissed my children” as follows: “He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.” (see Muslim, Fadail, 65; Tirmidhi, Birr wa Sila, 12)

In another incident, he said to a man who said he never kissed his children, “What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?” (see Bukhari, Adab 18; Muslim, Fadail 15)

In some societies and families, people avoid displaying their love and compassion to children openly. Expressing emotions is seen as a trait peculiar to women. The man, on the other hand, shows neither his love nor his longing.

In order to eliminate those understandings, the Prophet (pbuh) used a harsh language and said, “He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy” and “What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?”

By changing the customs based on such views, he introduced compassion instead of harshness and rudeness, and peace instead of war.

However, kissing children can be permissible only if it is an act of compassion and mercy, not lust. (see Ibn Hajar, 10/430)

It is permissible to kiss the organs of young children according to the views of Islamic scholars as is stated in many hadith narrations regarding the issue. As for the wisdom behind it, we will try to explain it in a few items:

a) As it can be understood from the narrations of the hadiths, kissing the organs of children in this way shows the affection and mercy of the kisser.

That is to say, our Prophet (pbuh) was at the top in terms of compassion and mercy, as he was in all forms of high ethics. As a matter of fact, the issue is clearly expressed in the following verse: “And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character” (al-Qalam, 68/4)

b) Loving children makes their mothers happy.

If that love comes from great people, the joy of mothers will be greater accordingly. This, in turn, helps to alleviate the troubles they suffer because of their children.

If the one who does it is the Prophet (pbuh), in particular, the mother will be bursting with happiness.

c) The fact that our Prophet (pbuh) kissed his grandchildren in particular is a kind of consolation for the worldly disasters that will befall them, in addition to being a kind of congratulations in terms of otherworldly positions and rewards.

d) In addition, that our Prophet (pbuh) kissed different parts of the body of Hasan Husayn, the masters of the youth of Paradise, might also be a sign of their spiritual values. For example, millions of great people, saints, mujtahids and pure people emerged from their descendants... They expressed the realities that led to the guidance of millions of people.

Our Prophet (pbuh) may have kissed their various organs as a reward in advance, in return for their promising services.

Allah knows best.

For more information, please click on the link given below;

How should we understand the hadiths about the Prophet’s kissing his grandsons Hasan and Husayn? Will you interpret them?

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