AS-SALAAMU ﺳﻼﻢ ALAYKUM ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ Why is it important to use the Islamic greeting? Islam teaches us to use it when meeting another Muslim or leaving the company of a Muslim because it unifies and strengthens the bonds between us. This greeting brings love, and increases our Iman (faith). When we exchange these words we feel good, and realize that we have something in common that bonds us together, regardless of how well we know a person. We say it with a smile, and with the good intention of following the Sunnah (Prophet Mohammad’s way of life). In saying Salam (short form of the greeting) we immediately feel a ‘connection’.
An authentic Hadith (traditions of Prophet Mohammad) reported by Imams At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Oh you people, spread salam among you, serve the food, behave kindly with your blood relations, and offer prayer at night when others are asleep, and you will enter paradise safely.” Further, Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) “what in Islam is the best?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered, “To feed people and to say salam to everyone whether you know them or not.” When did the Islamic greeting begin? Historically, it was Adam (peace be upon him), the first of men, to say it. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When Allah created Adam he told him to go and say Assalamu Alaikum to a group of Angels and listen to their reply. It is your greeting and the greeting of your descendants. Adam went and said: Assalamu Alikum and they said Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.” The complete form of the Islamic greeting Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh. This means “peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you from Allah” One should note that this longer way of saying the greeting has a greater reward from Allah compared to only saying it the shorter way of Assalamu Alaikum. The rule in Islam is that when we are offered a greeting, we return it with a better one or with its equal at least. Allah orders in the Qur’an: “When a greeting is offered you, answer it with an even better greeting, or (at least) with its like. Allah keeps count of all things.” [Surah An-Nur; 4: 86]
Rahmatullah.” As the man sat the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Twenty rewards.” Then another man came and said: Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh. As the man sat down the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Thirty rewards.”
The better greeting and reply are illustrated in the following Hadith (traditions of the Prophet Mohammad). Umar reports that he was riding with Abu Bakr on one mount. When they passed by people, Abu Bakr greeted them saying: ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ and they replied: ‘Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah.’ Or he may greet them saying: ‘Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah,’ for which their reply was: ‘Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh.’ Abu Bakr commented: “Today, people have gained much more than us.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad] How easy Allah has made it for us. It takes less than 8 seconds to say the last form of the greeting bringing us the most rewards. The Etiquettes of a Salaam It’s good to keep these etiquettes in mind, because we encounter these instances all the time. 1. The one who comes greets the Muslims that are present. 2. The one who is riding greets the one who is walking. 3. The one who is walking greets the one who is sitting. 4. The smaller group greets the bigger group. 5. The young greet the elder. Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “A rider should greet a pedestrian, a pedestrian should greet one who is sitting, a small party should greet a large party, and a younger should greet an elder one.”
Salams are recommended when leaving as well as when we meet. Imams Abu-Dawood, and At Tirmidhi reported in an authentic Hadith that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “When one of you joins a gathering he should greet those present; and when he leave them he should greet them because the first salutation is not better than the last one.” I hope now, you can pass on the Salam to your fellow brothers and sisters with better understanding. So with this I shall end. Assalamu alikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Reported by Imams Abu-Dawood and At Tirmidhi in a Hadith (traditions of the Prophet Mohammad), a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “Assalamu Alaikum.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded and the man sat down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Ten rewards.” Another man came and said, “Assalamu Alaikum Wa
WINTER 2010/THE MUSLIM VOICE/9