Last edition we began the topic of greetings and its etiquettes, Alhamdulillaah , we present below the second and concluding part of the topic.
Greeting fellow Muslims: The Muslim man, not known with fisq (perpetrator of evil and wrongdoing) and b i da h (innovations in the creed of the religion) is to be greeted and if he greets you, you must respond. This greeting may even be at short intervals. Abu Hurairah (RA) related that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "When one of you meets his brother (in faith) he should greet him. Then if a tree or a wall or a stone intervenes between them and then he meets him again, he should salute him." (Abu Dawood).
Greeting a group of people Abu Hurairah (RA) informed us that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer the salutation (salamah) to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart. The first act of greeting is not more meritorious than. the last." (Abu Dawood) Whenever you meet a group of people, it is sufficient to greet all of them once and it suffices that one person from them responds to that greeting.
Ali (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "It suffices the group when they pass by (a people) that one of them utters the greeting (salamah), and it suffices the people seated that one of them responds. " (Abu Dawood)
Sometimes, we meet Muslims in a gathering of other non-Muslims how should we greet them? You should greet them,. while intending the Muslims as your target. Usaamah bin Yazid (RA) related that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) passed by a gathering having a mixed company of Muslims, the polytheist worshippers of idols and the Jews. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) greeted (salamah to) them." (Bukhari)
Greeting people of a household: It is established that it is a meritorious act that you should greet the people of your household when you want to enter your own house. Allaah says, "But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah, blessed and good. "(Q24:61) Also, Anas (RA) narrated: "Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) said to me, Dear son, when you enter your house, say As- Salam Alaikum to your family, for it will be a blessing both to you and toyour family " (Tirmidhi) The little ones in the home are not left out. They should be instructed likewise as soon as they attain the age of discernment. Allaah says: "And when the children amongst you come to puberty, then let them also ask for permission as those senior to them (in age). " (Q24: 59).
As for houses other than ours Allaah has instructed us not to enter them except after seeking the occupants permission and greeting them. He says: "O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them." (Q24:27). Permission is to be sought thrice and if granted you enter, otherwise you return. Abu Musa Al-Ashari (RA) related: Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "Permission is to be sought thrice. If it is accorded, you may enter, otherwise go back. ,. (Muslim) And do you know the benefit of this act? It is to save your eyes from looking at that which is not permissible for you.
Sahl bin Sad (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "Seeking permission to enter (somebodys house) has been prescribed in order to restrain the eyes (from looking at something they are not supposed to look at). " (Bukhari), How then should you seek permission? You should do so by saying: As-salaam alaykum; may I come in? Narrated Rib! bin Hirash(RA): A man of Banu Amir tribe has told us that he had asked Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) for permission to enter when he was at home. He said: "May 1 enter?" Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) said to the servant; "Go out and instruct him about the manner about the manner of seeking permission. Tellhim to say: As-Salaam alaykum. May I enter?" The man heard this and said: "As-salaam alaykum (peace be upon you). May 1 come in?" Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) then accorded permission to him and he entered .." (Abu Dawood)
Mention your name: It is a good habit to mention your name while seeking permission to enter someones house or talk to him. This was the way of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and his honoured companions. Narrated Umm Hani (RA): I went to Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) who was taking a bath while Fatimah was screening him. He (peace and blessing be upon him) asked: "Who is there?" r replied: "I am Umm Hani." (Bukhari)
Do not say I or me: Doing otherwise is disliked (e.g. not mentioning your name or saying "I or me") and disapproved by the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). Jabir bin Abdullah related: I went to Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) and knocked at the door (with a view to seeking his permission). He asked; "Who is there? "I said: "I". He repeated: "I, P! As if he disapproved it." (Bukhari)
Greeting the opposite sex: It is permissible for men to greet women, and vice versa, once there is the absence of fitna (the temptation to commit the unlawful) and the order to lower the gaze is observed. From the evidences available on this subject, the scholars have deduced that a young woman is forbidden to greet men and respond to their greeting just as a man (young or old) is similarly not allowed to greet a young woman. A man or a group of men can greet a group of women and the reverse is also permissible.
Some of the evidences are as follows: A man on his own is allowed to greet a group of women even if they are strangers. Asma bint Yazid (RA) narrated that Allaah's Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) passed by the mosque one day while a group of women were seated (therein), so he waved his hand and made salamah (i.e he greeted us)". (Tirmidhi). Similar to this, a group of men can greet a single woman. Sahl bin Sad (RA) narrated that there was a woman among us who would put beet root (a type of vegetable) in a pot and add to it some ground barley. She used to cook them together. When we returned from the Friday prayer, we would greet (salamah to) her and she would offer itto us." (Bukhari).
However once there is no fear of evil or temptation, then making the salamah is praiseworthy especially if either of them is recognized for his piety and righteousness. Aisha (RA) related: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said to me: "This is Jibril, he is greeting you (with salamah), so 1said: "Wa alayhis-salam warahmatullah wabarakatuhu" (May the peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him too). In addition Umm Hani (RA) the daughter of Abu Talib related: I went to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
He was taking a bath and Fatimah was screening him with a cloth. Then I greeted (offer salamah to) him ... "(Muslim) Greeting little children As for greeting the little ones who have attained the age of discernment with the saamah, it is well established in the Sunnah of the noble Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and his companions followed him in this practice. It is a desirable act. Anas bin Malik (RA) related that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) passed by some youths playing and he greeted them. (Abu Dawood).
In another narration, he specifically reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: " As-salaam alaykum 0 youths!" (Ibn Suneen) This companion followed this path later in his life. Narrated Anas (RA) that he passed by some children and greeted them. Then he said: "Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) used to do the same thing." (Bukhari). By greeting children, you are educating them about the etiquettes of Muslims and pleasing their hearts while at the same time demonstrating the virtue of a modesty.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited