In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Virtue of Greeting with Salam (2) (In the Light of Hadith)

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah created Adam عليه السلام in His image, and his height was sixty cubits. When Allah completed his creation, He said: Go to that group and greet them; a group of angels was sitting there, and listen to what they reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring. So Adam عليه السلام went and said: As-salamu ‘alaykum. They replied: As-salamu ‘alayka wa rahmatullah. He ﷺ said: They added ‘wa rahmatullah.’ He ﷺ further said: Everyone who enters Paradise will be in the form of Adam عليه السلام, and his height will be sixty cubits. But after Adam عليه السلام, the height of mankind has continued to decrease.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

This hadith is to be understood upon its apparent meaning. Belief in the hadiths of attributes and their outward meanings is obligatory upon every Muslim. The scholars of hadith have included this among the ambiguous texts; its explanation and interpretation are known only to Allah. والله أعلم۔

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The rider should greet the one who is walking, the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting, and the smaller group should greet the larger group.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

The method of greeting non-Muslims:

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Do not initiate greeting the Jews and the Christians, and when you meet them on the road, compel them to the narrowest part of it.” (Sahih Muslim)

By the narrowest part of the road is meant one side; that is, when there is crowding on the road, Muslims should walk in the middle so that their dignity and prominence are manifested, and non-Muslims are made to walk on the sides.

“Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When the People of the Book greet you, then say only: Wa ‘alaykum.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

“Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The Jews greet you saying ‘As-samu ‘alayk’ (meaning: may death be upon you), so respond by saying: Wa ‘alayk.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

The virtue of those who initiate greeting:

“Hazrat Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The people nearest to Allah are those who initiate the greeting of salam.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud, Musnad Ahmad)

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said: When one of you meets his brother, he should greet him with salam. If a tree, wall, or stone comes between them and then they meet again, he should greet him with salam.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)