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The Virtues Of Salaam
The Islamic Greeting
Compiled
By Hazrat Moulana Yusuf Motala Saheb
Translated By Moulana
Muhammad Irshad
Contents
1.
Introduction
2. Offering Salaam Is An Islamic
Duty
3. Replying To Salaam Is A Duty Of A
Muslim
4. Warning Upon Not Replying To The
Salaam
5. The Virtue of Commencing Salaam
6.
Reward For Giving Salaam
7. What is
Salaam?
8. The Manner of giving Salaam
9.
Conduct With The Person Who Does Not Say Salaam
10.
Spread Salaam
11. A Rider Should Give Salaam To A
Walking Person
12. Giving And Replying To Salaam From
One Person Is Sufficient
13. Giving Salaam To The
Children
14. The Correct Words Of Salaam
15.
The Manner Of Greeting The Dead In The Grave Yard
16.
Giving Salaam To The People Of A Gathering
17. Reply
To A Third Person's Salaam
18. Giving Salaam Even
After A Short Separation
19. Salaam Upon The Noble
Prophet At The Time Of Entering A Masjid
20. The
Virtue Of Giving Salaam In One's Own Home And Then Setting
Out
1. Introduction
All praise be to
Allah the Lord of the Worlds and peace and blessing be upon the
best of creation who was sent down as a mercy for the worlds His
beloved Prophet (SAW) says. Here we present a compilation of
virtues of the Islamic greeting, Salaam.
2.
Offering Salaam Is An Islamic Duty
It has been narrated
from Hazrat Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy
Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "Commonly in Islam there
are six rights of a Muslim upon a Muslim: when he meets him
he should give him salaam; when he invites him (to a meal) he
should accept it; when he sneezes he should bless him; when he
falls ill he should visit him; when he dies he should accompany
his funeral and he should prefer for him that which he prefers for
himself."
3. Replying To Salaam Is A Duty
Of A Muslim
Nasai narrates from Hazrat Abu Hurairah
(Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "There are rights of a Muslim over a Muslim:
Responding to salaam, visiting the sick, following the bier (A
platform upon which the corpse rests), accepting an invitation (to
a meal) and blessing a person who sneezes. "This
narration has been narrated in Sahih Muslim in these words, "There
are six rights upon a Muslim." The Prophet was asked,
"What are these O' Prophet of Allah?" The Prophet
replied, "When you meet him, give him salaam, when he invites
you, (to a meal) accept it, when he seeks counseling from you give
him counseling and when he sneezes and says Alhamdulillah, bless
him, when he falls ill visit him and when he dies accompany his
funeral."
4. Warning Upon Not Replying To
The Salaam
It has been narrated from Abdur Rahmaan ibn
Shayba; he says the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "A rider should give salaam to a walking
person, a walking person should give salaam to a seated person, a
small group should give salaam to a larger group, whoever then
responds to salaam, it is for his benefit, and he who does not
respond to salaam, is not from amongst us." Ibn Sunni
has narrated this and also Imaam Bukhari (Rahmatullaahi Alayhi) in
his book Al Adabul Mufrad. On these bases Allama Nawawi in
his commentary of Sahih Muslim has said, "To commence salaam
is Sunnah and to reply is Wajib." Similarly Hafiz ibn
Abdul Bar says, "It is an unanimous agreement of the Muslims
that to commence Salaam is Sunnah and to reply is Wajib."
5.
The Virtue of Commencing Salaam
It has been narrated by Abu
Umamah that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam)
said, "Whoever commences Salaam is very close to Allah and
His Messenger (SAW.) says " Ibn Sunni has narrated this.In
Imaam Ahmad's narration there is, "The closest to Allah, the
most glorious and eminent one, from amongst all the people is the
one who commences salaam."
Similarly Tabrani narrates
from Abu Darda, who says that we asked the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) , "O Prophet of Allah, we meet
each other, so who from amongst us should give salaam first?"
The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, "The
one who is the most obedient to Allah from amongst you."
6.
Reward For Giving Salaam
It has been narrated by Saalim
(Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "He who says Assalaamu Alaikum (Peace be upon
you) ten rewards are written down for him, and he who says
Assalaamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah (Peace be upon you and Allah's
mercy) for him twenty rewards are written down and he who says
Assalaamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (Peace be upon you
and Allah's mercy and blessing) thirty rewards are written down
(for him)."In support of this Hadith we find a narration by
Ibn Umar (Radiallahu Anhu) in Musannaf-Abdul-Razzak; It has been
narrated in this Hadith that a person came in the presence of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and said, "Assalamu
Alaikum." The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) replied, "Ten." Then a second Sahabi came
and said, "Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah." The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, "Twenty."
Then a third Sahabi arrived and said, "Assalamu Alaikumwa
rahmatullahi wa barakatuh." Upon this the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)said, "Thirty." That
is to say upon three words thirty rewards will be written
down.
7. What is Salaam?
Imam Baihaqi
narrates in discontinuation from Ibne Abbas, that As-Salaam is
amongst Allah's names and also this is the greeting of the
dwellers of Paradise.
Imaam Bukhari (Rahmatullahi Alayhi)
in his Al-Adabul-Mufrad narrates from Hazrat Anas (Radiallahu
Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said,
"As-salaam is indeed a name from the names of Allah, which
Allah has placed upon the Earth, therefore spread salaam amongst
yourselves in abundance."
8. The Manner of
giving Salaam
Abu Yala narrates from Hazrat Abu Hurairah
(Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "When anyone of you decides to offer salaam he
should say 'Assalaamu Alaikum', because Allah, the most Glorious
and Eminent one is As-salaam, for this reason do not commence with
anything before saying Allah's name."
9.
Conduct With The Person Who Does Not Say Salaam
It has been
narrated from Ibn Umar, that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi
Wa Sallam) said, "He who speaks without firstly giving
salaam, then do not answer him (to what he has to say)."
10.
Spread Salaam
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Salaam (R.A.) says, "When
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) arrived in
Madinah, the people lost no time in arriving in the presence of
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) . I was
amongst the people who had arrived to see him. When I looked
with thoughtfulness at the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam)'s radiant face, I realised with certainty that this is no
face of a liar."Abdullah ibn Salaam (R.A.) says, "The
very first thing which I heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) say was, 'O' People, spread salaam and feed the
people, keep good relations with your kith and kin and at
nightfall engage yourself in salaah while others are asleep, for
you will enter Paradise safely. "In Mu'atta, Tufail ibn
Abi Shayba regarding Ibn
Umar radiyallahu anhuma says that one
day when I came to Abdullah ibn Umar, he asked me to go to the
market (with him). I asked, "What are you going to do
in the market? You do not go to any salesman, or ask about
any goods or its price nor do you want to sit in any market
gatherings, so stay here with us, we will talk here."
Abdullah
ibn Umar then said, "O Abu Battan, (he called him Abu Battan
because Tufail ibn Abi had a large stomach) we are going to
the market for the cause of giving salaam."
Similarly
Ibn Sunni has narrated about Abu Imaam Baa'ali that he said to
Muhammad ibn Ziyaad, "O my nephew the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)has commanded us that we spread
salaam."
11. A Rider Should Give Salaam To A Walking
Person
It has been narrated by Fudhala ibn Ubaid that the Holy
Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "A rider
should give salaam to a
walking person, a walking person
should give salaam to a standing person
and a small group of
people should give salaam to a larger group."Similarly
it
has been narrated by Hazrat Jabir (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "An elder
person should give
salaam to a younger one, one person should
give salaam to two, a small
group of people should give salaam
to a larger one, a rider should give
salaam to a walking
person, a passer-by should give salaam to a standing
person
and a person who is standing should give salaam to a seated
person."Likewise it has been narrated by Abu Hurairah
(Radiallahu Anhu)
that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "A rider should
give salaam to a walking
person and a walking person should give salaam to
a seated
person and when a small group of people pass by a larger
group
they (the smaller group) should give salaam."Similarly it has
been
narrated by Jabir that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam)
said, "A rider should give salaam to a
walking person and a walking person
should give salaam to a
seated person, but if two walking persons meet each
other,
then whoever commences salaam first from the two, is
superior."Similarly it is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah
(Radiallahu Anhu)
he the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) said, "A younger person
should give salaam to an
elder person, a by-passer to a seated person and a
small group
of people to a larger group."
12. Giving And
Replying To Salaam From One Person Is Sufficient
It has
been narrated by Hazrat Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy
Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "The salaam
of a person, from a
passing group of people, will be
sufficient on behalf of all the group,
likewise if one person
from those who are seated replies to the salaam, it
will be
sufficient on behalf of all the rest."
13.
Giving Salaam To The Children
In Sunan-e-Abu Dawood, it has
been narrated by Hazrat Anas that, "The Holy
Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) came by us at the time when I was a
child together with other children and greeted us all with
salaam. Then
the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) took hold of my hand and
sent me on an errand (with a
message). The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa
Sallam)was waiting in the shade of a wall until my return.
"Similarly Imaam Muslim, Imaam Ahmad, Imaam Tirmidhi and
Imaam Darami
narrate from Hazrat Yasaar (Radiallahu Anhu) that
he said, "I was walking
with Thabit Binai when he passed
by some children. He conveyed salaam to
them, and began
to say that once he was walking with Hazrat Anas and when
he
passed by some children he also greeted them with salaam.
Hazrat Anas
then narrated a Hadith, that he was walking with
the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)and when they
passed by some children, the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wa Sallam) greeted them with salaam. "Similarly Imaam
Nasai narrates from Hazrat Anas that when
the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) would set out to meet the
Ansar,
he would greet their children with salaam, and would place his
blessed hands upon the children's heads and make dua for
them. Similarly
Imaam Bukhari and Ibn Sunni
(Rahmatullahi Alayh) narrate that Hazrat Anas
(Radiallahu
Anhu) has related that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) suddenly came upon some women, children and some
servants who were
returning from a wedding. The Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)
gave salaam to them and
said, "In the name of Allah, I love you all."
14.
The Correct Words Of Salaam
Abu Tameema narrates from a
Sahabi who reported, "I said 'Alaikas Salaam
(Upon you be
peace) O' Messenger of Allah."
The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "Alaikas Salaam are
the
words of the deceased person's salaam. When one of you meets
his
fellow brother, he should say Assalamu Alaikum wa
Rahmatullah."
15. The Manner Of Greeting The
Dead In The Grave Yard
It has been narrated by Hazrat Abu
Huraira (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) came towards the cemetery and said,
"Alaikas
Salaam (Upon you be peace), O' people of this abode, from amongst
the believers, verily, if Allah wishes, we are going to join
you in a short
while. "In another narration it has
been narrated thus, that when the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) passed by the graves, he would say,
"Salaam
be upon you, O' people of this abode from the believing men and
believing women, Muslim men, Muslim women, pious men, pious
women, indeed
if Allah wishes, we will join you. "The
first narration has been narrated
by Imaam Abu Dawood and the
second narration has been narrated by Allama
Suyuti in his
book Jaame-us-Sageer.
16. Giving Salaam To The People
Of A Gathering
It has been narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira
(Radiallahu Anhu), that the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wa Sallam) said, "If any one of you enters any
gathering,
he should give salaam. He should then remain seated to that
extent he has in his mind, and when he decides to return, he
should again
give salaam. The reason being that the
first salaam is not more rightful
than the second, that is, he
gives the first salaam and not the second."
Imaam
Abu Dawood, Imaam Tirmizi and Ibne Sunni have narrated this
narration.
17. Reply To A Third Person's
Salaam
A person from (the tribe of) Banu Tameem narrates
from his father who
narrates from his paternal grandfather
that he arrived in the presence of
the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and said, "My father sends
salaam upon you. "The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied,
"Wa Alaika Wa'alaa Abeekas
Salaam (Peace be upon you and your father)."
Imaam
Abu Dawood, Nasai and Ibn Sunni have narrated this.Similarly it
has
been narrated by Hazrat Aisha radiyallahu anha that the
Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "Jibraeel
sends salaam upon you.
"Hazrat Aisha (Radiallahu
Anha) replied, "Wa Alaihis Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi
Wabarakatuh (Peace be upon him and Allah's mercy and
blessings). You (O'
Prophet) can see things which we
cannot."
Similarly Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim
(Rahmatullaahi Alayh) have related
Abu Huraira's narration, he
says, Jibraeel (Alyhis Salaam) the trustworthy
arrived in the
presence of the Noble Prophet and said, "This is Khadija,
who is coming; she has with her a utensil in which there is
curry (or he
said food, or drink). When she arrives
give, her salaam from her sustainer
and myself, and give her
glad tidings of a house in Paradise that will be
hollow in
which there will be no loud noise (din), nor weariness.
"Ibne
Sunni has narrated this narration in more detail.
It is narrated by Amr
bin Wahb that Hazrat Khadija (Radiallahu
Anha) set out in search of the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) in the upper part of Makkah
Mukarrama.
Hazrat Khadija (Radiallahu Anha) had the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)'s food with her. Jibraeel
(Alyhis Salaam)
the trustworthy met Hazrat Khadija (Radiallahu
Anha) in the form of a man
and questioned her regarding the
Holy Prophet(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) . Hazrat Khadija
(Radiallahu Anha) began to tremble and thought that, probably he
is from those who are out to harm the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) .Hazrat Khadija (Radiallahu Anha) mentioned this
incident to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied that he
was Jibraeel (Alyhis Salaam) the trustworthy. He has
informed me that he has met you and he has also told me that you
have food with you and that is Hees (a sweet dish). Hazrat
Jibraeel (Alyhis Salaam) the trustworthy has said, "Give
salaam to Khadija from Allah the most glorious and eminent one,
and give her glad tidings of a house in Paradise which will be
hollow in which they will no loud noise (din) nor weariness.
"Hazrat Khadija
(Radiallahu Anha) said, "Allah the
exalted is Himself As-Salaam (The Giver
of peace) and peace
comes from Him, Salaam be upon Jibraeel, he is the
messenger
of Allah. Salaam be upon you and salaam be upon all those
who are listening but Shaytaan.
O' Prophet of Allah, what
is the hollow house in Paradise wherein they will
be no loud
noise (din) nor weariness?"
The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) replied, "It will be a
secure
house made out of pearl."
18. Giving Salaam Even
After A Short Separation
It has been narrated by Anas
(Radiallahu Anhu) that the companions of the
Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) would walk together and when a
tree would come in their way they would separate towards the
left and
right. Then on meeting each other, one of them
would greet the other with
salaam.
19. Salaam
Upon The Noble Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam At The Time Of
Entering A Masjid.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (Radiallahu Anhu)
narrates the saying of the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam), "When anyone amongst you enters a Masjid" or he
said, "When anyone amongst you arrives at a Masjid, he should
send salaam upon the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)
and say, 'Allahumma aftahli abwaba rahmatik', (O Allah, open the
doors of your mercy for me) and when he comes out of the Masjid he
should also then send salaam upon the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) and say, 'Allahumma
a'ithni min ash-shaytaan
ir-rajee' (O Allah give me refuge from the
accursed
Shaytaan). In the narration of Ibn Majah these words have
been
narrated, 'Bismillahi was-salaamu ala rasullullahi' (I
begin in the name of
Allah, Salaam be upon Allah's
Messenger)."
20. The Virtue Of Giving Salaam In
One's Own Home And Then Setting Out
It has been narrated by
Abu Umamah Al Ba'ali from the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wa Sallam) that he said, "There is no one like he who
performs wudhu thoroughly and then washes both his hands, feet and
face, then gargles his mouth and performs his wudhu in the manner
in which Allah has commanded him but sins which he has committed
by talking or walking towards are wiped away, such that sins
committed by his limbs are forgiven. When he walks towards the
Masjid he gets one reward for every step he takes. His
salaah remains an extra bonus for him, that is when he enters upon
his family, greets them with salaam and lies down upon his bed,
for him is the reward of a full nights worship. "Likewise
it has been narrated by Abu Umamah al-Ba'ali that the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, "They are three people
under the care of Allah the most glorious and eminent one; one who
goes out in the path of Allah as a Muslim soldier is in the care
of Allah until Allah takes his soul away. He will be entered
into paradise or Allah will return him with reward and booty,
which he has gained. The second person, who is also in the
care of Allah until Allah takes his soul away, is he who walks
towards the Masjid. Allah will enter him into Paradise or
make him return, giving him reward and booty which he has gained.
The third person who is in the care of Allah is he who enters his
own home and gives salaam." Ibn Sunni has mentioned
both of these narrations. Imaam Bukhari in his book
Al-Adabul Mufrad has mentioned a narration, "There are three
types of people who are all in all in the care of Allah. If
they stay alive they will find a life of sufficiency and if they
pass away they will enter Paradise. One is he who enters his
own home by giving salaam, is in the care of Allah the most
glorious and eminent one. The second person that is in the
care of Allah the most glorious and eminent one is he who goes out
towards the Masaajid. The third person who is in the care of
Allah is he who goes out in the path of Allah."
Also
Ibn Sunni relates a narration of Abu Huraira that he said, "It
is the saying of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)
that definitely there is an illumination and light for Islam, like
a pathway which is well lit; that a Muslim should worship Allah
and must not associate anything with him. He must carry out
Fardh Salaah, give Zakaah, perform Hajj of Baitullah, keep the
fast of the auspicious month of Ramadhaan and enjoin right conduct
and forbid indecency. To give salaam to your household when
you enter upon them, and to give salaam upon those Muslims you
pass by. If they reply to your salaam then the angels will
return salaam upon them and if they do not answer to your salaam,
the angels will reply to your salaam, and curse them or they will
stay quiet with them. Whoever has let go of one of the abov
mentioned then he has let go of a part of Islam and whoever throws
them all away has thrown Islam behind his back. "Likewise
a narration of Sahih Muslim is narrated from Miqdad ibn Aswad , he
says we three companions arrived in the presence of the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)Then the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) took us to his household (family),
there were three goats there. He (The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) ) told the three of us to take the
milk and distribute it amongst ourselves whenever we needed it.
Miqdad says, "We obeyed the command and would leave a portion
for the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)."
Hazrat Miqdad (R.A.) says that the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) would come at night and would
give salaam in such a manner that it would not wake a sleeping
person but would be heard by a person who was awake. Then he
would go to the Masjid to pray his salaah and then would drink his
own portion.
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