VIRTUES OF SALAAM & ETIQUETTE – PART 1

What is Salaam?

Imam Baihaqi narrates in discontinuation from Ibne Abbas, that As-Salaam is amongst Allah’s names and also this is the greeting of the dwellers of Paradise.

Imaam Bukhari (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) in his Al-Adabul-Mufrad narrates from Hazrat Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “As-salaam is indeed a name from the names of Allah, which Allah has placed upon the Earth, therefore spread salaam amongst yourselves in abundance.”

The Manner of giving Salaam

Abu Yala narrates from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “When anyone of you decides to offer salaam he should say ‘Assalaamu Alaikum’, because Allah, the most Glorious and Eminent one is As-salaam, for this reason do not commence with anything before saying Allah’s name.”

Conduct With The Person Who Does Not Say Salaam

It has been narrated from Ibn Umar, that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “He who speaks without firstly giving salaam, then do not answer him (to what he has to say).”

Spread Salaam

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Salaam (R.A.) says, “When the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah, the people lost no time in arriving in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) . I was amongst the people who had arrived to see him. When I looked with thoughtfulness at the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)’s radiant face, I realised with certainty that this is no face of a liar.”Abdullah ibn Salaam (R.A.) says, “The very first thing which I heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) say was, ‘O’ People, spread salaam and feed the people, keep good relations with your kith and kin and at nightfall engage yourself in salaah while others are asleep, for you will enter Paradise safely.”In Mu’atta, Tufail ibn Abi Shayba regarding Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhuma says that one day when I came to Abdullah ibn Umar, he asked me to go to the market (with him). I asked, “What are you going to do in the market? You do not go to any salesman, or ask about any goods or its price nor do you want to sit in any market gatherings, so stay here with us, we will talk here.”

Abdullah ibn Umar then said, “O Abu Battan, (he called him Abu Battan because Tufail ibn Abi had a large stomach) we are going to the market for the cause of giving salaam.”

Similarly Ibn Sunni has narrated about Abu Imaam Baa’ali that he said to Muhammad ibn Ziyaad, “O my nephew the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)has commanded us that we spread salaam.”

A Rider Should Give Salaam To A Walking Person

It has been narrated by Fudhala ibn Ubaid that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “A rider should give salaam to a walking person, a walking person should give salaam to a standing person and a small group of people should give salaam to a larger group.”Similarly it has been narrated by Hazrat Jabir (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “An elder person should give salaam to a younger one, one person should give salaam to two, a small group of people should give salaam to a larger one, a rider should give salaam to a walking person, a passer-by should give salaam to a standing person and a person who is standing should give salaam to a seated person.”Likewise it has been narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “A rider should give salaam to a walking person and a walking person should give salaam to a seated person and when a small group of people pass by a larger group they (the smaller group) should give salaam.”Similarly it has been narrated by Jabir that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “A rider should give salaam to a walking person and a walking person should give salaam to a seated person, but if two walking persons meet each other, then whoever commences salaam first from the two, is superior.”Similarly it is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) he the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “A younger person should give salaam to an elder person, a by-passer to a seated person and a small group of people to a larger group.”

Giving And Replying To Salaam From One Person Is Sufficient

It has been narrated by Hazrat Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “The salaam of a person, from a passing group of people, will be sufficient on behalf of all the group, likewise if one person from those who are seated replies to the salaam, it will be sufficient on behalf of all the rest.”

Giving Salaam To The Children

In Sunan-e-Abu Dawood, it has been narrated by Hazrat Anas that, “The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) came by us at the time when I was a child together with other children and greeted us all with salaam. Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) took hold of my hand and sent me on an errand (with a message). The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)was waiting in the shade of a wall until my return.”Similarly Imaam Muslim, Imaam Ahmad, Imaam Tirmidhi and Imaam Darami narrate from Hazrat Yasaar (Radiallahu Anhu) that he said, “I was walking with Thabit Binai when he passed by some children. He conveyed salaam to them, and began to say that once he was walking with Hazrat Anas and when he passed by some children he also greeted them with salaam. Hazrat Anas then narrated a Hadith, that he was walking with the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)and when they passed by some children, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) greeted them with salaam.”Similarly Imaam Nasai narrates from Hazrat Anas that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) would set out to meet the Ansar, he would greet their children with salaam, and would place his blessed hands upon the children’s heads and make dua for them.Similarly Imaam Bukhari and Ibn Sunni (Rahmatullahi Alayh) narrate that Hazrat Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) has related that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) suddenly came upon some women, children and some servants who were returning from a wedding. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) gave salaam to them and said, “In the name of Allah, I love you all.”

The Virtues Of Salaam; The Islamic Greeting Compiled By Hazrat Moulana Yusuf Motala Saheb Translated By Moulana Muhammad Irshad