Is it permissible to kiss the deceased?

Yes, it is permissible. One should kiss the deceased on the face, specifically on the part of the face that touches the ground during prostration.

It is permissible for family members, relatives, and friends to kiss the deceased’s face, based on the words of ʿAʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said,
“I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) kissing ʿUthman ibn Madhʿun when he passed away, until I saw his tears flowing” (recorded by Abu Dawud in his Sunan).

It was also narrated from ʿAʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said, “Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) hastily rode from his home in al-Sunh, dismounted his horse, and entered the mosque. He did not speak to the people until he reached ʿAisha (may Allah be pleased with her). He then went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) who was covered with a patterned Yemeni cloak. Abu Bakr uncovered the Prophet’s face, then bent over him and kissed him. He then wept and said, ‘May my father be sacrificed for you, O Prophet of Allah. Allah will not make you face two deaths. As for the death that was decreed for you, you have indeed faced it’” (recorded by Bukhari in his Sahih).

Imam al-Nawawi noted in Al-Majmuʿ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab (5/127), “It is permissible for family and friends to kiss the face of the deceased, as affirmed by the hadiths. This permissibility is explicitly mentioned by al-Darimi Al-Istidhkar and by al-Sarakhsi in Al-Amali.” Shaykh Zakariya al-Ansari also noted in Asna al-Matalib (3/114) that there is no objection to kissing the face of a righteous deceased person.

A person should kiss a deceased on the part of the face that touches the ground during prostration. It is mentioned in Hashiyat Qalyubi ʿala Sharh al-Mahalli ʿala al-Minhaj (1/403), that it is recommended to kiss a righteous deceased person; this applies as long as there are no grounds for suspicion. The book further notes that kissing the part that touches the ground during prostration is preferable to kissing any other part, and that it should be without a barrier.

The ruling

Based on the above, it is permissible in Islamic law to kiss the deceased on the part of the face that touches the ground during prostration, and it is especially preferable to kiss him if he is among the righteous.

And Allah Almighty knows best.