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Aadaab us-Salaam

Allah (swt) said: “When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allâh is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things. [4: 86]

Allah (swt) said: “But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allâh (i.e. say: As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum - peace be on you) blessed and good. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (these Verses or your religious symbols and signs, etc.) to you that you may understand. [24:61]

The Prophet (saw) said: “You will not enter paradise until you are believers, and you will not be believers until you love each other, do you want me to tell you how to love each other? Say Assalam Alaykum.” [Hadith Bukhari, Chapter of No body enter paradise but believers.]

The Prophet (saw) said: “The rights of a Muslim on another Muslim are six, one of them if you meet a Muslim say Assalam Alaykum.” [Saheeh Muslim, No. 2162]

- The Sunnah is to say Salaam and make him feel secure, and must accompany with a smile.
- To give salaam is recommended, Haq of a Muslim,
- It is Fard to answer salaam, and there is no disagreement among the Fuqaha

The Prophet (saw) said: “It is enough for a group of people to pass by and say salaam, it is enough for a group of people to reply.” [Abu Dawoud, No. 5210]

Abu Hurairah reported that “a man passed by the messenger (saw) and said Assalam Alaykum, The messenger (saw) said that for that there are 10 rewards, to say Assalam Alaykum Warahmatullah is 20 rewards, and to say Assalam Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu is 30 rewards.” [Sahih Bukhari No. 986, Timidhi No. 2689, Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal No. 19,446]

1 - HOW TO ANSWER SALAAM

- If someone gives salaam, then give a better salaam.
- There is no Evidence to say that you can give more than Assalam Alaykum Warakhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.
- Umar ibn al Khattab and Imam Ali used to say Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatahu.

2 - DON’T SAY WALAYKUM ASSALAAM , IF NO SALAAM IS GIVEN, IT IS DISLIKED.

Jabir bin Sulayn narrated that: “I visited the messenger (saw) and said Walaykum Salaam, the messenger (saw) said don’t say Walaykum Salaams, say Asalam Alaykum. (i.e. don’t reply… salute)” [Tirmidhi No. 2722]

3 - RECOMMENDED TO GIVE SALAAMS THREE TIMES

Narrated by Anas, “When the messenger (saw) entered a group of people he gave salaam three times.” [Bukhari No. 6244]

- Applies to group of people and not individuals.

4 - GIVE THE SALAM PROUDLY AND LOUDLY

Abdullah ibn Omar said “There is no reward if the salaam is not said aloud, and you must reply the same or Louder.” [Bukhari]

The messenger of Allah (saw) said, “if you say salaam, make it loud so people can hear it.” [Kitaab ul Adab, Imam Bukhari, No. 1005]

- Loud as in loud enough to hear, not loud as in shouting and scaring person.

5 - MUST GENERALISE SALAAM WHEN ENTERING A GROUP OF PEOPLE, NOT MAKING IT SPECIFIC TO ONE PERSON.

A Man came to the messenger (saw) and said “tell me something good about Islam”, the messenger of Allah (saw) said “to feed people, and to give salam to the one you know and the one you do not know.” [Bukhari No. 12, Sahih Muslim No. 39]

6 - THE ONE WHO ENTERS MUST GIVE SALAAM

Three men came to the messenger of Allah (saw), the messenger (saw) said to them “Assalam Alaykum Warakhmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,” and said “the one who enters should give salaam.” [Kitaab ul Athkar, Imam Nawwawi]

7 - THE ONE WHO IS DRIVING WILL SAY SALAAM TO THE PEDESTRIAN. WHEN WALKING THE LESSER NUMBER WILL SAY TO THE HIGHER NUMBER. THE YOUNGER WILL SAY SALAAM TO THE ELDER.

The Prophet (saw) said: “Let the Rider give salaam to the walking, let the walking give salaam to the sitting.”
[Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Bukhari No. 6232]

What if the walking gave Salaam to the riding, or the sitting to the walking ?

- It would be permissible, but opposite to the Sunnah.

What if both are elders, or both are walking ? who says salaams ?

“If two people are the same age, the best amongst them should say salaam first.” [Saheeh al Bukhari No. 6077, Kitaab ul Adhaab, Imam Bukhari No. 994]

8 - CAN A MAN SAY SALAAM TO A WOMAN ?

- Fuqahaa differ on this issue…
- To say salaam to a young/beautiful women is forbidden
- Say salaam to elderly women is allowed, as long as there is avoidance of Fitnah (old as in old as mother, or grandmother)
- Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad says not allowed, unless in Shariah context, i.e. come to shop in morning. And say Assalam Alaykum.
- Ibn Qayyum said Ahmad bin Hanbal gave salaam to old women, and maybe women with mahrem.

Ibnu Abi Hazam narrates, that … “there used to be old women who used to bring us some dates, she used to cultivate land, and do cooking, we used to say Salaams, in presence of Companions, she used to reply Walaykum Salaams.” [Bukhari No. 6248]

9 - CAN YOU GIVE SALAAM TO CHILDREN ?

Yes it is rewardable

Anas ibn Malik reported, “whenever the Prophet (saw) used to go past children he used to say Assalam Alaykum to the children.” [Bukhari No. 6247]

If a child says Salaams to Adult is it Fard to Answer ??

It is not fard to answer, but it is recommended to answer, because they are not on Takleef. (Hanafis, Shafis, Malikis)
Some Hanbalis say it is fard.

“When the Prophet (saw) used to enter sleeping he said Salaam quietly for those who maybe awake to hear.” [Bukhari No. 2075]

10 - IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO SAY SALAAM TO A KAAFIR

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Do not start the Jews and Christians with Salaam, and if you see them face to face avoid them. If he says Salaams, say Walaykum.” [Muslim No. 2167]

Reported by Anas ibn Malik, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “if Ahl al Kitaab say Salaam, say Walaykum (and you)."” [Bukhari No. 6258]

“Jews used to say to the messenger of Allah (saw) Asaam Alaykum, (death be upon you), the messenger of Allah (saw) used to reply, Walaykum (and you).”

11 - WHAT IF YOU ENTER A GROUP OF MUSLIMS AND NON MUSLIMS?

“The messenger of Allah (saw) said salaam to a group. Mushriks where amongst them.” [Bukhari No. 6254]

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said “if I go to a group, and kuffar and Muslims are there, I say Salaam, my niyyah is only to Muslims.”

12 - CAN WE GIVE SALAAM BY HAND?

On the authority of Jabir, “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Do not salute by Salutation of the Jews, by their heads, by hand, or by fingers."” [Imam Nisai, also mentioned in Fath ul Bari, Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalani]

- When women said salaam to the messenger of Allah (saw) he replied by hand.
- Also allowed to salute by hand for deaf people.
- Not from sunnah for women to kiss eachother. (salutation)

When Praying

Jabir ibn Abdullah narrates,

“The Messenger of Allah (saw) sent me on a mission, Khutabah was praying, I said Salaam to him, he raised his hand to me. Afterwards Khutabah said to Jabir Ibn Abdullah “did you see me reply"… “yes that is what the messenger of Allah (saw) taught us.” [Muslim No. 540, Abu Dawoud No. 925]

13 - WHAT ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE IS READING QURAN ?

- It is permissible for him to ask,
- It is fard for him to reply, (although not necessarily immediately breaking his recitation for it, but after he has stopped to take a breath.)

14 - WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE TOILET, IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO SAY SALAAM

Reported by Ibn Umar, “A man said salaam to the messenger of Allah (saw) while he was in the toilet, the messenger never replied nor raised his hand. The Messenger (saw) said, “I dislike to mention Allah’s name without purity."” [Muslim No. 370]

- When entering your home and no one is there, still say Assalam Alaykum, upon yourself.
- It is Sunnah to say Salaam to you family/wife
- When someone tells someone to pass on a salaam to someone else, Fard to pass it on, recommended for him to answer
- Hanbalis say Wajib to pray 2 rak’ats at mosque before saying salaam.
- When at Salaatul Jummah, and the Imam is speaking it is not allowed to speak or say Salaam, [Bukhari No. 934]
- If someone talks to you without salaam - it is Makrouh
- If people are eating and you say Salaam, they must reply
- Sunnah to speak while you are eating, hadeeth says even how much your weapons cost you.

A man he used to do haram, then go to pray, used to say salaam to the messenger of Allah (saw) and the messenger (saw) never used to reply. [Bukhari 4418]

15 - HOW TO SHAKE HANDS

“Shake hands, it will remove the hatred from your heart, give gifts, you will love eachother.” [Mu’watta Imam Malik, No. 1685]

“Whenever two Muslims meet, Shake Hand from your heart, Allah will forgive them before they are separated.” [Abu Dawoud No. 5212, Bukhari No. 6263]

- Not allowed to shake hands after salaat

Sunnah of Shaking hands of children, is to stroke their head

[Bukhari No. 966, Chapter of Shaking Hands]

The Bay’ah is done verbally

[Hadeeth of Aisha, Bukhari N. 2588].

“Women said to the messenger of Allah (saw), “you are like our father, let us shake your hand”, the messenger of Allah (saw) said, “I do not shake hands of any women, my saying to one women is like a saying to a hundred women.” [Musnad Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal No. 20,466, Tirmidhi No. 1597, Ibn Majah No. 2874]

- Sunnah is to keep fingers closed and full palm to full palm

From alghurabaa.co.uk