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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Hadith on Saying Salam







It has been narrated by Anas (r.a.) that the companions of the Holy Prophet (saw) 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. 


I recently heard the above hadith and thought of sharing something about the greeting in Islam. How many times we have wished our fellow Muslim brother or sister with something like hey and bye instead of saying salaam?  For most of us it happens many times.


When Islam came, Allah (SWT) prescribed Salaam for us, and it was only to be used among Muslims.  Salaam is better than all other greetings because it has such a deep meaning to it.  Assalamu-alaikum means may peace and blessings of Allah descend upon you.  Where can you find a better greeting than this??  NOWHERE!!!  Also, our greeting is one of the best things in Islam.  The Prophet  (SAW) made spreading salaam a part of faith.  Narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah  (SAW): "What is the best thing in Islam?" He said, "Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know"(Bukhari 12).
          So you ask yourself, "Why is it such a big deal to say salaam to some other Muslim?  I don't even know them"!  Well, to answer this question, saying salaam to another Muslim is Sunnah and it is FARD to reply.  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (SAW) said: "The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him when he sneezes"(Bukhari 1240).  If you don't say salaam or reply, you're losing your hasanats.  Abu Huraira reported that a man passed by the Messenger of Allah (SAW) while he was sitting with some others, and said "Salaam Alaikum". The Prophet (SAW) said "He will have 10 hasanats".  Another man passed by and said "Salaam Alaikum wa rahmat-Allah".  The Prophet (SAW) said he will have 20 hasanats".  Another man passed and said "Assalamu-alaikum wa rahmat -Allaahi wa barakaatuh".  The Prophet (SAW) said he will have 30 hasanats"(Bukhari 586).  From this Hadith, we can see one reason of many as to why saying Salaam is soo important.  Many of us just say "Assalamu-Alaikum".  But just for adding a few more words, you get 10 more hasanats!!!  How merciful can Allah (SWA) get???  Who would want to miss out on these rewards?
           Who should greet who?  Allah's Apostle said, "The younger person should greet the older one, and the walking person should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons"(Bukhari 8.251).  It also should be said when you are entering or leaving your home.
Allah gave us a greeting of our own, use it!!  Don't be shy to say it at school or anywhere else.  Who cares what people think??  Every time you say it you get hasanats, so take advantage of it.
           I must also address the issue of the way of saying it.  It's not slalaikum, like many of us say.  It is Assalamu-alaikum.
           You can see how important saying salaam is from all the evidence I have given.  Allah is sooo merciful to us, and gives us many chances for rewards, yet we don't go for those chances.  Salaam increases love amongst Muslims.  It bonds us together.  No matter what nationality we are, we still have the same greeting.  Go out there and greet those whom you don't know.  Say "assalamu-alaikum" to your friends at school.  Be proud of who you are.  I will end with this hadith: The Prophet (SAW) said: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves"(Sahih Muslim 96).

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