From Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol.22, p.315-316
Question: What do the scholars and jurists say regarding the issue of kissing ones thumbs when hearing the name of the dear Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam. Is it necessary or not? If so, at which events and what times? Bayyinu Tujiru.
Answer: If by necessary you mean Fard, Wajib or Sunnah Mu’akkada; then it is not any of these. Yes, the scholars of fiqh have said is it mustahab when listening to the adhan and there are ahadith that have been documented to this effect [which I have researched in my monograph Munir al-‘Ayn fi Hukmi Taqbil al-Ibhamayn meaning Enlightening the eyes by kissing the thumbs]. However, during salah or a khutba or whilst listening to the Qur’an it should not be done.
Not performing it during salah is evident and the impermissibility during listening to the khutba or the Qur’an is because one should have utmost attention at these times and refrain from any unnecessary movements. When the verse Maa kaana muhammadun abaa ahadim mir rijalikum is recited, so many people kiss their thumbs, it is as if birds have gathered to sing and they do it to such an extent that people from afar cannot even hear some words of the holy Qur’an. This faqeer [humble person] severely dislikes this act and it causes me much discomfort. Even if there is no harm to place the thumbs on the lips and then place them on the eyes at this time; there is no ruling to make a sound during the kiss of reverence – like when one kisses the black stone, the ka’aba, the Qur’an or the hands and feet of the pious. There is no rule to make the noises like a flock of birds. Wallahu subhanahu wa ta’ala a’lamu bi’ssawaab.
Question: What do the scholars and jurists say regarding the issue of kissing ones thumbs when hearing the name of the dear Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam. Is it necessary or not? If so, at which events and what times? Bayyinu Tujiru.
Answer: If by necessary you mean Fard, Wajib or Sunnah Mu’akkada; then it is not any of these. Yes, the scholars of fiqh have said is it mustahab when listening to the adhan and there are ahadith that have been documented to this effect [which I have researched in my monograph Munir al-‘Ayn fi Hukmi Taqbil al-Ibhamayn meaning Enlightening the eyes by kissing the thumbs]. However, during salah or a khutba or whilst listening to the Qur’an it should not be done.
Not performing it during salah is evident and the impermissibility during listening to the khutba or the Qur’an is because one should have utmost attention at these times and refrain from any unnecessary movements. When the verse Maa kaana muhammadun abaa ahadim mir rijalikum is recited, so many people kiss their thumbs, it is as if birds have gathered to sing and they do it to such an extent that people from afar cannot even hear some words of the holy Qur’an. This faqeer [humble person] severely dislikes this act and it causes me much discomfort. Even if there is no harm to place the thumbs on the lips and then place them on the eyes at this time; there is no ruling to make a sound during the kiss of reverence – like when one kisses the black stone, the ka’aba, the Qur’an or the hands and feet of the pious. There is no rule to make the noises like a flock of birds. Wallahu subhanahu wa ta’ala a’lamu bi’ssawaab.