Bowing

thumb |upright |Pressing hands together with a smile to greet namaste – a common cultural gesture in India

Sujud (, ), or sajdah (, ), also known as sijda, sejda or shejda, in Islam is the act of low bowing or prostration to God facing the qiblah (direction of the Kaaba at Mecca). It is usually done in standardized prayers (salah). The position involves kneeling and bowing till one touches the ground with seven bones (points): the forehead and nose, two hands, two knees and two sets of toes. In accordance with the Sunnah (the Way) of Muhammad, one's elbows should be far from one's body, unless it causes discomfort to other worshippers, but not resting on the ground. Some scholars hold the position

Bowing (also called stooping) is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture in direction to another person or symbol. It is most prominent in Asian cultures but it is also typical of nobility and aristocracy in many European countries. It is also used in religious contexts, as a form of worship or veneration. Sometimes the gesture may be limited to lowering the head such as in Indonesia, and in many cultures several degrees of the lowness of the bow are distinguished and regarded as appropriate for different circumstances. It is especially prominent in Nepal, India, Cambodia, T

alt=|thumb|350x350px|French President Emmanuel Macron greets U.S. First Lady [[Melania Trump by kissing her hand (24 April 2018).]] Hand-kissing is a greeting gesture that indicates courtesy, politeness, respect, admiration, affection or even devotion by one person toward another. A hand-kiss is considered a respectful way for a gentleman to greet a lady. Today, non-ritual hand-kissing is rare and takes place mostly within conservative class or diplomatic contexts. Today, the hand kiss has largely been replaced by a kiss on the cheek or a handshake.

thumb|wiktionary:en:precant|Precants performing ruku

thumb|First Lady of the United States|United States First Lady [[Michelle Obama with a young girl curtsying at the White House on October 6, 2010.]] thumb|The wife of Rotterdam mayor [[Gerard van Walsum curtsying to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, September 23, 1964.]]

A kowtow (), also spelled kaotao (), is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. It was commonly used in religious worship which emphasizes its emotional depth, sincerity, and willing submission. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence. It was widely used to show reverence for one's elders, superiors, and especially the Emperor of China, as well as for religious and cultural objects of worship.

Thai greeting consisting of a slight bow with the palms pressed together

thumb|400px|Moravians performing proskynesis during [[Christian worship in 1735]]

thumb|upright=1.85|A boy kneeling in the courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Syria Kneeling is a basic human position where one or both knees touch the ground. According to Merriam-Webster, kneeling is defined as "to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor". Kneeling with only one knee, and not both, is called genuflection.

prostration (sujud) which occurs during the ritual Tilawa of Quran in Salah or outside it

thumb|Genuflection on one knee, during a Catholic Mass

ritual gesture, practice in Buddhism

Sembah (, , ) is an Indonesian greeting and gesture of respect and reverence performed by clasping the palms together solemnly in a prayer-like fashion, placing them in front of the chest and, while bowing slightly, moving the pressed palms up to either the chin, or until the thumbs touch the tip of their nose, depending on the status of the person greeted.

religious practices of Buddhism

custom of lowering one's body

acknowledgement of audience praise by a performer

Muslim prayer of gratitude towards Allah