Virtues of the Islamic Greeting

October 25, 2018
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Author: Ilyas Nassief
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Greetings are an important part of a society and a mark of its civilization and culture. In Dominica as in other parts of the Caribbean, if a person were to enter a shop or get on a bus without saying “good-morning”, the older people would consider them to be rude, ill-bred and devoid of good character and etiquette. Islam has brought with it comprehensive guidance for all of the affairs in the life of a Muslim. Included in this is the greeting of Islam which is a blessed and unique greeting for the believers.

Before the coming of Islam, the Arabs used to greet one another with the words “An’im sabaahan” or “An’imu sabaahan” which can be translated as meaning “good morning.”

Allah gave the Muslim nation a greeting in which they say “Assalaamu alaykum.” These simple words carry with them important meanings and rulings .The literal meaning of salaam is “peace” and it implies harmlessness, safety and protection from evil, shortcomings and mistakes. The name al-Salaam is also one of the Names of Allah, the Exalted, and so the meaning of the greeting of Salaam that the Muslim says upon greeting another Muslim is, “May the blessing of His Name descend upon you!”

One of the legislated times to say the greeting of Salaam is upon entering ones house. Allah says in the Qur’an

But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah (i.e. say: As-Salamu 'Alaikum - peace be on you) blessed and good. Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat (these Verses or your religious symbols and signs, etc.) to you that you may understand

Holy Quran

Surah An-Nur (24:61)

When a Muslim is greeted with Salaam, he is obligated to respond likewise in the same way that he was greeted or to return the salaam with an additional wording. Allah said in relation to this:

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

Holy Quran

Surah An-Nisa (4:86)

Ibn al-Qayyim said this about the greeting of salaam:

Allaah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be ‘al-salaamu ‘alaykum’, which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas or lies, such as saying, ‘May you live for a thousand years,’ or things that are not accurate, such as ‘An’im sabaahan (Good morning),’ or actions that are not right, such as prostrating in greeting. Thus the greeting of salaam is better than all of these, because it has the meaning of safety which is life, without which nothing else can be achieved. So this takes precedence over all other aims or objectives. A person has two main aims in life: to keep himself safe from evil, and to get something good. Keeping safe from evil takes precedence over getting something good…

Ibn al-Qayyim

Badaa’i' al-Fawaa’id (pg.144)

Salaam is also the greeting of the people of Paradise. Allah says in the following verse

And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): ‘Salaamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!

Holy Quran

Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:23-24)

The name of Allah “As Salaam” is also mentioned to end the prayer and after the tasleem at the end of every prayer.

When we say Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullah at the end of prayer, it is a complete spread of well-being Peace to the right (to the angels and people) and peace to the left (to the angels and people).

Likewise, after the prayer has ended, the first thing that we say is ‘O Allah, You are Al-Salaam and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.’ This word of remembrance is said immediately after the prayer ends along with “Astaghfirullah,” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness.) It is as if we are saying, “O Allah, if my prayer was not proper, if there was anything You did not like, then keep me safe from its consequence and protect me from my shortcomings.”

Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ concluded his prayer, he would beg forgiveness from Allah three times and then would recite: "Allahumma Antas- Salamu, wa minkas-salamu, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram (O Allah, You are the Grantor of security, and security comes from You. You are Blessing, O You Who have majesty and nobility)!

Thauban

Sahih Muslim (16/1415)

In addition to this, Paradise is called Dar us Salaam. That is because it is a place free from all grief, death, worries, tensions, fatigues, enmities, hatred, and it is a place of safety. Allah said regarding this:

"But Allah do call to the Home of Peace: He does guide whom He pleases to a way that is straight.

Holy Quran

Surah Yunus (10:21)

The greeting of the angels to one another in Paradise is also the greeting of Salaam. Allah also says:

Only the saying,'Peace! Peace

Holy Quran

Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56:26)

The “Peace of Allah” is an atmosphere which sums up Heaven even better than “Bliss”. Allah gives Salaam to His slaves in Paradise.

"Peace! A Word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!

Holy Quran

Surah Ya-Sin (36:58)

The Prophet ﷺ taught us that greeting with the salaam is a part of faith. In the hadeeth narrated by ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar:

a man asked the Messenger of Allaah: “What is the best thing in Islam?” He said, “Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know.

Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar

Sahih Muslim (39)

Ibn Rajab said about this hadeeth:

“The hadeeth makes the connection between feeding others and spreading salaam because this combines good actions in both word and deed, which is perfect good treatment (ihsaan). Indeed, this is the best thing that you can do in Islam after the obligatory duties.

Ibn Rajab

Al-Fath (1/43)

An important aspect of the greeting of salaam is that one should not restrict it to only those whom he knows, but it should be the greeting that a Muslim gives to his Muslim brother whether he knows him or not. Imam Al-Sanoosi said

What is meant by salaam is the greeting between people, which sows seeds of love and friendship in their hearts, as does giving food. There may be some weakness in the heart of one of them, which is dispelled when he is greeted, or there may be some hostility, which is turned to friendship by the greeting.

Imam Al-Sanoosi

Ikmaal al-Mu’allim (1/244)

In another hadeeth narrated by Abu Harayrah, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves.

Abu Hurairah

Sahih Muslim (54)

This hadeeth teaches us that the greeting of Salaam is a means by which love and brotherhood is spread. Al-Qaadi ‘Ayaad said:

“This is urging us to spread salaam, as mentioned above, among those whom we know and those whom we do not know. Salaam is the first level of righteousness and the first quality of brotherhood, and it is the key to creating love. By spreading salaam the Muslims’ love for one another grows stronger and they demonstrate their distinctive symbols and spread a feeling of security amongst themselves. This is the meaning of Islam.

Al-Qaadi ‘Ayaad

Al-Ikmaal (1/304)

Rewards for greeting with As Salaam

The Prophet ﷺ also explained the reward earned by the one who says salaam in this hadeeth;

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that a man passed by the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ whilst he was sitting with some others, and said “Salaam ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).” The Prophet ﷺ said, “[He will have] ten hasanaat (rewards).” Another man passed by and said “Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah).” The Prophet ﷺ said, “[He will have] twenty hasanaat.” Another man passed by and said “Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings).” The Prophet ﷺ said, “[He will have] thirty hasanaat.

Abu Hurairah

Sahih Bukhari (586)

Rulings on greeting with As Salaam

There are some important Ahkaam or legislative rulings connected to the greeting of As Salaam. Some of these are:

The obligation of returning the salaam if one is greeted. The verse in surah An Nisaa is a proof for this – where Allah says:

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

Holy Quran

Surah An-Nisa (4:86)

In addition to this the following hadeeth also emphasizes the obligation of responding and returning the greeting of As Salaam.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him (by saying) “Yarhamuk Allaah” (May Allah have Mercy on you), when he sneezes.

Abu Hurairah

Sahih Bukhari (1240)

The Prophet ﷺ also prescribed for us in the Salaam a cure for bad feelings and enmity among the believers. Abu Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three days, each of them turning away from the other if they meet. The better of them is the first one to say salaam

Abu Ayyoob

Sahih Bukhari (6233)

Greeting non-Muslims with as Salaam

Another important fiqh issue related to the greeting of As Salaam is what one should do regarding greeting the non-Muslims with asSalaam. It is not permissible to initiate the greeting of Salaam to a non-Muslim.

Do not initiate the greeting of salaam to a Jew or a Christian

Abu Huraira

Sahih Bukhari (26/5389)

If one of them says “As-Saam ‘alaykum” , meaning, “may death be upon you”, or it is not clear whether they said “salaam”, then we should respond by saying “Wa ‘alaykum” (and upon you).

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺsaid: “When the Jews greet you, they say ‘Al-saam ‘alaykum (may death be upon you),’ so respond by saying ‘‘wa alayk (and also upon you).

Ibn 'Umar

Sahih Bukhari (5902)

If however, a non-Muslim greets us with the correct shar’i greeting (i.e., says ‘Al-salaamu ‘alaykum’ then there is a difference of opinion among the scholars as to whether we have to return the greeting. The majority of scholars said that the greeting should be returned and they quote as a proof the verse in Surah an Nisaa considering it in its generality.

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

Holy Quran

Surah An-Nisa (4:86)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said

They differed as to whether it is obligatory to return the greeting. The majority said that it is obligatory and this is the correct view. A group of scholars said that it is not obligatory to return their greeting just as it is not obligatory to return the greeting of those who follow bid’ah. The difference is that we are commanded to forsake the followers of bid’ah by way of rebuke and to warn others about them, which is not the case with the Ahl al-Dhimmah (Jews and Christians)

Ibn al-Qayyim

Zaad ul Ma’aad Vol. 2 (pg: 425-426)

Men greeting women with As Salaam

Ibn Muflih mentioned that Ibn Mansoor said to Imam Ahmad: (What about) greeting women with salaam? He said: If the woman is old there is nothing wrong with it. Saalih (the son of Imam Ahmad) said:

I asked my father about greeting women with salaam. He said: With regard to old women, there is nothing wrong with it, but with regard to young women, they should not be prompted to speak by being made to return the salaam

Saalih

Al-Adaab al-Shar'iyyah (1/370)

Who should initiate the salaam?

The Prophet ﷺ also gave us guidelines as to who should initiate the greeting. He said:

The one who is riding should greet the one who is walking, and the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting, and the smaller group should greet the larger group. According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “One who is passing should greet one who is sitting.”

Abu Huraira

Sahih Bukhari (6234)

The Sunnah is for one who is walking to greet one who is sitting, and for one who is riding to great one who is walking, and for the younger to greet the older, and for one who is coming in to greet the people who are in a place.

Initiating the greeting of salaam is Sunnah and it is mustahabb (encouraged), and responding to it is waajib (obligatory). If one person from a group responds to the greeting, then that is sufficient, but if all of them return the greeting then that is better. This was the view of al Imam AnNawawi.

There are some other details regarding the greeting of salaam but I will suffice with what has been mentioned for the sake of brevity.

Hadith Reminders

Al-Hasan ibn Ali reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind and falsehood sows doubt.
Reference : Sunan at-Tirmidhī

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