Muslims don't kiss in public. Is this true?
By smacksman
@smacksman (6053)
February 28, 2007 5:08am CST
I heard on the radio this morning a joking comment by an English/Pakistani Muslim celebrity that he couldn't get a job acting as James Bond 007 because it would involve kissing girls on the lips on the film set which was against his religion.
Is this true? If so, then how do Muslims show affection in public? How do they greet their friends and family?
Please educate me!
5 people like this
51 responses
@blue_fairee (236)
• Pakistan
28 Feb 07
if you truly love some one, right way is to marry him/her and than if you want to kiss him/her to convey your feelings, that can be done at your home privately as this is your personal matter loving your partner. Why to show to public at all???
@smacksman (6053)
•
28 Feb 07
Why indeed. It must be very strange for Muslims in the west to see what some couples do in public.
1 person likes this
@blue_fairee (236)
• Pakistan
1 Mar 07
like what people do in west is not acceptable for Muslims in their societies for themselves but what west is doing thats according to their belief and culture so Muslims should not be bothered about that.
Everyone is free, born free, can do anything.
Islam is code of conduct, code of how to live our lives and Muslims are those who believes in Islam and adopt this code of conduct in their lives. Islam as religion doesnt say IMPOSE ME ON EVERYTHING WHETHER HE/SHE LIKES OR NOT.
2 people like this
@smacksman (6053)
•
8 Mar 07
So as most western movies have kissing in them they will be banned in Muslim countries?
1 person likes this
@getmpfree (132)
• Slovenia
7 Mar 07
Yes, for far as I know they don't kissing in public ! And I think we should respect that! I hate when some people want to push their style of life to another culture, to another civilization. We should rescpect other cultures, other traditions and others should respect our.
@smacksman (6053)
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8 Mar 07
I agree that each society should allow cultures to do their own thing. Sometimes you just don't know when something that is quite normal in your country causes offence in another.
@thanaseelan (57)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
1 Mar 07
mmmm they can get married ten women
and that no problem for them but when come to this kind or thing for them like tabooo.
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
30 Mar 07
God made woman from the rib of a man he did not take more than one rib did he? there were adam and eve not adam and eve,ruth and naomi!
1 person likes this
@joby_09 (498)
• Philippines
1 Mar 07
Really? Never heard of this. I'd better confirm it to my colleague who happened to be a muslim. =) Anyway, if this is really true, then we cannot do anything about it. Its their belief and i guess we just have to respect that. But as for me, there's nothing wrong if you kiss in public. Just make sure that its not annoying, disturbing and scandalous to others. =)
2 people like this
@smacksman (6053)
•
1 Mar 07
You are right. There is the big difference between the greeting peck on the cheek by friends and the all out snog of lovers who never seem to come up for air. haha
1 person likes this
@msk123 (80)
• India
19 Mar 07
As far as your blood relative are concern you can hug your male relatives in public. For female ralatinve you can shake hand or hold both hands for a moment.In muslim religion you can't touch any female except your mother and own sister even in private places.How can you touch in public.Question of kissing is far from thinking.You can greed others by salam.
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
24 Mar 07
Could you expand on your comment, yhashemi? In what way is it not true?
1 person likes this
@just4you0 (421)
• India
26 Jul 09
If we talk about muslim religion then even women are not allowed to show their face to everyone. For this they wear special clothes which hide their whole body from head to feet. Only hands are visible, so how can we expect that kissing in public in muslim religion in allowed. Though it is allowed in private and i think all do that. Also its not limited to muslims, in countries like India,pakistan,etc kissing in public is not allowed in any religion either muslim or hindu. Happy mylotting!
@smacksman (6053)
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26 Jul 09
But they kiss in Bollywood films so it can't be against the law in India to kiss in public? Granted, it may not be approved by society but there is difference between unapproved and unlawful.
Thanks for your input.
@just4you0 (421)
• India
26 Jul 09
Monsterblood do you meant that i have written something wrong or less info? Well, this topic is about kiss so i just wrote about it. 
@Monsterblood (106)
•
26 Jul 09
No no I wrote this to clear up some misinformation i have found in some of the answers responding to your question, thats why i said i want to clear up some misconceptions on this. I was thinking after 7 pages of answers I am sure your head must be spinning, right? Or has it calmed now? :)
@plumwish07 (4057)
• Indonesia
25 Oct 07
its happened too in my culture. its kind of taboo if we kissing each other althought to our own husband or wife. in indonesia, the society just only shaking hand each other. giving kiss only for female with female. the male usually giving hug to another male. but i seen there is changing of culture. coz of western culture influence, those kind things being changed. if you see in big city, they will do same action as like in western. okay, now related with religion. i m not sure about the prohibitation to kiss our husband/wife in public area. but i like to kiss my husband in public area. whats wrong with that? we are already married and legal :P
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
25 Oct 07
Thank you so much for your information. When I started this discussion I thought it was only for muslims but I see it is widespread.
I suppose it all comes down to moderation. I mean you love your husband but when you meet in the street you don't push him down on the ground and jump on him do you? You may feel like it sometimes, haha, but you control your emotions.
In the UK it is common for friends to double 'kiss' when they meet, but in fact the lips don't make contact - just the heads cross over - and a 'mmmmwah, mmmwah' sound is made. Men shake hands with men.
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
17 Jul 07
Nah, my bf is a muslim and he has no problem at all with showing me affection in public. He also likes to hug and kiss so I do not belive that this goes for everyone.
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
18 Jul 07
So he could play James Bond no problem.
Would he make a good 007 do you think?
@sarkar1 (336)
• India
24 Mar 07
Also I would like to add that in the countries of the sub-continent(India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan), kissing in public is considerd un-ethical and against our moral code of conduct, it has not much to do with religion..........no matter what they religion they are(Hindu, Muslim, Christian ect.) in general people refrain grom kissing or involving in intimate positions in the public.
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
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26 Mar 07
Thanks for that feedback. As this discussion started with reference to kissing on a film set, do they kiss in Bollywood films?
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
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30 Mar 07
Well showing emotions is part of acting so I supose the actors put aside their normal ways for the good of acting.
@RogerTheRabbit (1271)
• Portugal
1 Mar 07
I really didn't knew this! But in some society, show affection in public is not well seen, in Portugal for example. People start to talk about respect in public, which I think as nothing to do with it.
This can be very true as in some religion, women can't show parts of their body.
Again it's all about the society in are inserted in.
1 person likes this
@davethegreat (40)
• Portugal
5 Jul 09
Right. And even if we don´t really agree wiht some issues common in other societies, we should try to always respect, because they are humans too and most certainly they have a reason to do it. For example, despite it is almost bizarre, male circumcision has health benefits, that were forgotten and now people do it only for tradition. But the basis was having a better life, without certain diseases.
@imdadul (9)
• India
30 Mar 07
kuraan,gita,bible there are many things all of which we should follw .
but some time we people are failed to do so.
this is happened because of situation.
open kiss and like other things has its own level and after reaching to that level we can do these.
in open place this type thins create an unnatural situation that bring bad result for our community.
so to save our community and to create a good surrounding for our children from bad effect we should refresh ourself.
if you are perfect then there will not be any question for activity
and that does not matter for any religion.
in muslim religion it is written(kuraan)that you should be an honest and perfect.......
@smacksman (6053)
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3 Apr 07
Ahhh. The age old strive for perfection. I think that perfection and infinity are the same - you can never get there.
I agree it is so important to set standards for our children to follow. They are surrounded by temptations in modern society to deviate them from an honest path.
However, a kiss on screen in christian society is not considered a sin.
@jareeh (23)
• United Arab Emirates
30 Mar 07
At the beginning allow me to thank 'Transcom22' for his post in here. Yes, Muslims never kiss in public or are given the right to show affection to the other 6. Men can hug and salute other men but not women - and vise versa.
It is a religion issue which helps in keeing the society clean and the streets safe!Anyway, religion issues require a person to do research and read a lot in order to gain knowledge about any thing.
Finally, everything is 'SET' for a reason, and when it is known then wonder conceals!
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
3 Apr 07
I agree. That is why it is important for people to ask questions and so to understand other cultures.
Thanks for your input.
@veedhya (72)
• Mauritius
12 Jun 09
I've also heard that muslims don't kiss in public. maybe they have another way to show their affection like in their bedroom etc...I think kissing in public is not allowed in the muslim religion. In public it can be like shaking hands or hugging....
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
12 Jun 09
It tends to limit what actors can do on the screen. A big smile will have to say it all!!
@thanaseelan (57)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
1 Mar 07
who say they dont it depends in what country u talking about .Some muslim country are now opend minded so they are doing it in public but not to expose.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
27 Mar 07
Hi Smacksman,
My husband is Muslim. We do not hug, kiss or hold hands in public. Believe me, it took some getting used to it but I am used to it now. He does not feel it is necessary to kiss or hold hands or hug to greet. To him, hello is enough. Will Smith became a Muslim after making a movie about someone who is Muslim. That was some years back. I find it hard to believe he has not done anything against the laws of Islam in his movies since he became a Muslim. Hmmm...what do you think?
@smacksman (6053)
•
28 Mar 07
I didn't know that! I must look more closely at his movies now. I really like him as an actor but of course I've never met him so I don't know what he is like as a man.
I am quite a 'touchy feely' sort of person by nature so it would be hard for me to change because I do it unconsiously.
@palpalsky (899)
• United States
14 Mar 07
well they greet by saying hello ..yes in some country kissing is big no... ..and it is considered very private thing
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
•
18 Mar 07
Is that something to do with religion in those countries or is it government laws?
@raja_sing (13)
• Malaysia
27 Mar 07
by right muslim friends cannit kissing girls at public,but they they can shake hand,i dont understand why they wearing a scaf
1 person likes this
@smacksman (6053)
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30 May 11
Hi sonata. Do women wear the burka in Malaysia?
I have never been to Malaysia but I have seen adverts for tourism and it seems to be a very beautiful country. Maybe one day I will visit.
@sonata83 (50)
• Malaysia
3 Jun 11
Smacksman, the Muslims in Malaysia do not wear burka. But they wear tudung which is a scarf worn around the head by Muslim women in Malaysia. It concelas the hair but not the face. If you would want to visit Malaysia, I would suggest you to visit the islands. :)
@benailla1981 (8)
• Morocco
11 Feb 12
yes my friend it is true and it is prohibited by religion, i am also muslim from morocco aged 31 and i am married and have a daughter
@smacksman (6053)
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11 Feb 12
Congratulations benailla. Do you watch Hollywood movies in Morocco? If you do, does it make you feel uncomfortable to see kissing on the screen when watching with your family? Or is such scenes edited out?
I have never been to Morocco but friends say that it is a beautiful country and very friendly. I must visit one day.
@benailla1981 (8)
• Morocco
12 Feb 12
yes i do watch hollywood movies, but i respect my family because i am married and have a daughter so this is not good to watch this kind of scenes but if i am with my friends boys i can feel confortable but also i think this is cheating my wife .. yes morocco is a great country if u will feel happy to come you are welcome
