Too proud? Tariq Jameel refuses child’s handshake

A video of renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel has gone viral on social media after he appeared to avoid shaking hands with a young child during a public appearance, triggering heated debate online.

The circulating clip shows the scholar stepping out of a luxury vehicle reportedly worth crores before being approached by a child who extends a hand for a handshake. In the footage, Maulana Tariq Jameel appears to decline the gesture and instead motions for the child to move aside before continuing forward.

The moment quickly spread across platforms including Facebook and Instagram, where users remained divided over the interaction.

Critics accused the cleric of displaying arrogance and questioned the contrast between his public sermons on simplicity and the lavish lifestyle reflected in the video.

One user commented, “This is also a number like Tahir-ul-Qadri, arrogant and ill-mannered. I don’t know how these people will show their face to Allah.”

Another wrote, “Some people consider others untouchable.”

A separate comment read, “Just look at his lifestyle, phir sunnat per aur saadgee per bhaashan detay hain.”

The incident also drew reactions from public figures, with actor and host Mishi Khan among those expressing disappointment over the gesture.

However, many social media users came to the scholar’s defence, suggesting there may have been personal or health-related reasons behind the interaction. Some argued that concerns about infections or the rush of the event may have contributed to the moment being misunderstood online.

Despite the mixed reactions, the clip continues to gain traction, reigniting conversations around public behaviour, celebrity religious figures, and the expectations attached to them.