"And when you are greeted with a greeting, great in return with what is better than it or (at least) return it equally" (Q4(Nisa]: 86)
Allaah has created human beings, as social creatures. We live in communities and relate with other people. Rarely would you find someone who has no desire to interact with other human beings but live off by himself. For the fact that weve been created with this need for interaction amongst each other, greetings hold an important status in our interpersonal relation.
Greeting takes different forms in various communities and for myriad of occasion. In some societies, coming in and going out have their forms of greetings. Even the simple act of eating has its own peculiar greeting. However, as ubiquitous as greetings are,they play no greater part in any society or community than they do in Islaam. Allaah says: "O You who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission (to enter) and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you remember." (Q24(Nur]:27) And, "...But when initiating, Salaam is considered Sunnah, but returning it after someone offers Salaam is Wajib (obligatory)! you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah, blessed and good ... "(Q24[Nur]:61)
Many Muslims today unfortunately trivialize exchanging greetings with each other. Meanwhile, in the presence of Allaah, it is not something trivial. In fact He emphasizes its importance with His command in the Quran: "When those who believe in Our ayaatinaa (verses, signs, revelation, etc.) come to you, say: "Salaamun 'alaykum" (Q6[Anam]:54)
And He says: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it,or (at least) return it equally." (Q4[Nisa]:86). The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also said: "The rights of a Muslim upon another are five: Returning greetings, visiting the sick, following the funeral procession, responding to invitations, and offering "tashmeet" (saying "Alhamdu-li-lIaah") for one who sneezes." (Bukhari) He also said: "The nearest of people to Allaah are those who greet first." (Ahmad, Abu Dawud) Due to the foregoing evidences, initiating Salaam is considered Sunnah, but returning it after someone offers Salaam is Wajib (obligatory)! Could any Muslim still think greeting isn't important? Merits and Benefits Greeting each other with "As-Salaamu Alaykum" has many virtues and benefits. For example:
Evidence of Imaan
Salaam is one of the defining criteria of true imaan, and is one of the deeds which Allaahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has stated is among the best. In one hadith, he was asked about which aspect of Islaam was the best. He replied: "Feeding the hungry and saying Salaam to those you know and those you dont know." (Bukhari)
The Cause of Love
Salaam is a cause of love for one another and unifies the hearts of the believers,and if we achieve this love and unity, insha Allaah, we will enter al-Jannah! The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "You will not enter al-Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another, shall I tell you about something which if you did (it), you will love one another?" The Sahabah replied in the affirmative, and Allaahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) then said: "Spread Salaam" among you." (Muslim)
It is a Duaa
Salaam is a duaa for your brother or sister. It is not from the Sunnah to say salaam on the Kuffar, thus we shouldnt give Salaam to them, because it is duaa. Allaah says: "It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who. believe to ask Allaahs forgiveness for the Mushrikun even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the fire." (Q9(Tauba]:11) The Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also said: "Do not greet al-Yahud (the Jews) and an-Nasara (the Christians) with Salaam, and if you meet one of them in a (tight) path, then compel him to the narrower part of it." (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhee, Muslim).
The Greeting of the Angels
Salaam is the greating of the angels. Allaah informs us: "And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened and its keepers will say: Salaamun Alaykum! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein." (Q39(Zumar]: 73) Also, "Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from evil; worshipping Allaah alone) saying (to them): Salaam un Alaykum, enter you. Paradise, because of (the good) which you used to do." (Q16[Nahl]:30)
How Salaam Began
Imaam al-Bukhari collected in his Sahih, the following hadith, in which the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Allaah created Adam in His image 60 cubits in height. When He created him, He said (to him), Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen to what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.Adam (went and) said, As-Salaamu Alaykum.They replied, As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullaah. So they increased wa Rahmatullaah."
Forms of Salaam
Salaam has different forms and there are grade for these forms. Imran ibn Hussain (RA) narrated: "A man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said, "As-Salaamu alaykum".The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) returned his greeting and when the man sat down, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Ten. Another man came and said As-Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaah to which the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also responded and when the man sat down, he said: Twenty. Another man came and said, As- Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh,The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa_sallam) returned his greeting, and after the man sat down, he said: Thirty." (Abu Dawud)
The Ulamaa have interpreted this hadith to mean that if one greets with the minimum form of Salaam, As-Salaamu alaykum, he or she is rewarded ten good deeds for saying it, as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said after the first man, Ten.The second grade would be to say As-Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaah, and earn a reward of twenty good deeds. Then the best form, which earns a reward of thirty good deeds, would be, As-Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh. Responses to the greetings are similar in grades and rewards (Wa alaykum us-Salaam; wa alaykum us-Salaam wa Rahmatullaah; wa alaykum us-Salaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh.)
Etiquettes of Salaam
There are several etiquettes we must follow when it comes to Salaam. Allaahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "The person who is riding should offer Salaam to 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 one." (al-Bukhari,Muslim) AsAllaah mentions in Surah an-Nur.ayat 61 (quoted earlier), the one who enters a house should initiate the Salaam to those already inside. The young should initiate the greetings to those who are older. If the child is very young, then it is Sunnah to offer them Salaam to teach them its importance, etiquettes,and to build their self-esteem. Anas bin Malik(RA)once passed by a group of boys and greeted them and said, the Prophet (sal/allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to do so." (Bukhari, Muslim) When meeting a group of Muslims,one must greet the whole group, not just one or two of them and not the others! This is improper. Also,one of the minor signs of the Last Day is that Muslims will greet those of distinction with a different greeting than everyone else is greeted with! The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Before the Hour comes, there will be a special greeting for the people of distinction ... "(Silsilatul Ahadith as-Sahihah) Also the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "When one of you meets his brother, he should say Salaam to him. If a tree, a wall, or a rQck comes in between them, and then they meet again, he should again say Salaam to him." (Abu Dawood) We see in Masajid and gatherings all over that people enter a gathering of people who are sitting and they all stand up to greet them. About this, Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah (RAH) said: "It was not the habit of the Salaf at the time of the Prophet, and the Khulafa ar-Rashidun to stand up every time they saw the Prophet .." Anas bin Maalik, said, "Although there was no person more beloved to them, they the Sahabah, would not stand up for the Prophet, because he used to dislike it.
Some Do Nots
Don' greet someone while you know they (or while you) are: Answering the call of nature, Having sexual relations, When someone is sleeping (Remember, returning the Salaam is Wajib! How can a sleeping person return your Salaam?), Offering Salaam to someone who is reciting the Quraan, praying, or making duaa is permissible but discouraged. Also we should not give Salaam while the Khateeb is delivering the Khutbah, as the reason for the Khutbahtul-Jumuah is for the people to pay attention and be admonished. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Do not greet the Jews and Christians with Salaam." (al-Bukhari)
If a Jew or Christian offers you Salaam first, we should reply with ﾓwa alaykum" (And upon you). If there is a mixed group of Muslims and non-Muslims, one should greet the group with the intention that it is only for those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day. Greeting non-Muslims with "Hello", "Good Morning", etc. is permissible, but not to use as a replacement for Salaam when meeting a Muslim. Saying Whats up?, Hi!" to a Muslim instead of offering Salaam is unlslamic! Nothing replaces Salaam between two Muslims when they meet.
Was-salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu!