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As-Salaamu ‘Alikum: The Adab of Greeting
March 1, 2006 on 8:06 pm | In Islam, Tafseer| By Ilm Seeker
Allah says, in the Qur'an:
Translation: When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things (Surah Nisaa, 4:86)1
If your brother or sister in Islam gives you salaams, return it. So respond to "as-salaamu 'alikum" with "wa'alikum as-salaam wa rahmatullah" and "as-salaamu 'alikum wa rahmatullah" with "wa'alikum as-salaam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" (but don't go beyond that).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said (to the meaning of) "Give salaam, for it spreads the love between you."
But what about if non-Muslims give you salaams?
Among the mufasireen, there are two opinions. One opinion (you can find it in books of tafseer by Mawdudi) is that you return their salaam, with something better. The other opinion (you can find it in books of tafseer by Ibn Kathir) is that you return to non-Muslims the same greeting ("wa'alikum", which means, literally, "and the same to you").
What about brothers giving salaam to sisters, and vice-versa, when you pass by each other? The answer is "yes, if it's not fitnah". You must be humble and keep your discussions, if any, within the allowed limts. (More on how to do that here.)
Islam-QA that outlines it nicely in a fatwa. They say: "It is also permissible for men to greet women with salaam and vice versa, according to the most correct opinion, but this greeting must be free of anything that may provoke desire in the person in whose heart is a disease, so as to be safe from fitnah [...]" It boils down to comfort level, and what's fitnah for you. Read the whole fatwa, it covers a lot of details.
May Allah protect us from fitnah and allow us to be revivers of the sunnah. Ameen!
(1) Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid, Islam Question and Answer Website. 2 Mar. 2006 <http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=1121&dgn=4>.
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Imam Maalik was asked: Can a woman be greeted with salaam? He said: With regard to the elderly woman, I do not regard that as makrooh, but with regard to the young woman, I do not like that.
Al-Zarqaani explained the reason why Maalik did not like that, in his commentary on al-Muwatta’: Because of the fear of fitnah when he hears her returning the greeting.
Proof: http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=39258&dgn=4
Comment by Umm Adam — March 3, 2006 #
Please, I need a comprehensive notes the Adab og Greeting. Its very urgent
Comment by Ibrahim — January 9, 2008 #
There are three words in this ayah that all come from the same root: حُيِّيْتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ which is ح ي ي or “hayy” as we all have heard–”life”. SubhanAllah, when one gives the salaams to you, they are greeting you with the greeting of LIFE.v a duaa of LIFE. And many underestimate the importance of this greeting, yet do you know how Allah azza wa jal will greet the people of Jannah? He ta’ala will say: Asalamu Alaykum.
La ilaha il Allah, As-Salaam (The Peace) will give YOU the salaams. Allah ta’ala says in Surah Yaseen ayah 58: سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ , “Peace! A word of salutation for the Lord, Most Merciful”.
And let us not forget when the angels take away the souls of the righteous, they will say to them: Salamun Alaykum! In surah Nahl ayah 32, interpretation of the meaning: Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state saying (to them): salamun Alaikum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of (the good) which you used to do (in the world).”
And this tradition of salaams goes back all the way to Adam alayhi sallam, in a hadeeth we learn that he gave the angels salaam and they responded to him as well. (This hadeeth is in Bukhari and Muslim)
amd Allah ta’ala says at the end of this ayah: He is Haseeb–He is keeping a record of how we respond, and He Knows how we are greeting our fellow muslims. And each will be rewarded accordingly.
As the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, every muslim has 5 rights upon us: and one of them is that we return their salaams. (This hadeeth is found in Saheeh Muslim #5378)
InshaAllah we should take giving the salaams more seriously, and remember this is what Allah ta’ala and His angels will, with His Permission, say to us when we die and enter Jannah.
As for adaab on greeting brother Ibrahim, you should read the chapter of giving Salaam in Riyad as-Saliheen by Imam an-Nawawi, here inshaAllah: http://www.masmn.org/documents/Hadith/Riyad_Us_Saliheen/05.htm
Asalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Comment by AmatulWadood — January 10, 2008 #