The way of greeting and reply to those greeting in Islam is unique. The Muslims greet each other by the Word” As-Salamu-alaikum. Although these words are from the Arabic language, the Muslims across the world, use these words.
The words of reply to these beautiful greeting are “Wa-Alikum-asalaam.” It is also the words of the Arabic language.
The holy book of the Quran and the Ahadith described the importance of greeting so many times.
Origin of Islamic Greeting
First of all, when we see the holy book of the Quran, we find its description clearly.
Allah says in the Quran,
“ when you enter in your own house, pay salutation to each other, a greeting in islam with purity and blessing from Allah, Does Almighty Allah clear the symbol to you which you can understand. “(24.61)
This verse verifies the presence of greeting by the words of Almighty Allah.
Similarly, in another place, Allah says,
“Angel’s greeting will be’ salam.”
In a Hadith, our beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW said,” Believe me, you cannot be entered in the paradise, if you not one from the believer, you cannot be the believer unless you love each other, can you not want to listen to something which creates love between you and the other. Then, our Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW said” do Salam to each other”
it is the importance Islam gives to the greeting.
Prophet Muhammad SAW sunnah
Greeting is the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. He also emphasized to spread the greeting.
Similarly, our Prophet Muhammad SAW said that there are five responsibilities of one Muslim over another Muslim. One of these five is the greeting. It means that the Muslims should greet each other. One of the benefits of greeting is the creation of a bond of happiness and sympathy between Muslims. It grows the seeds of joy and pleasure between the Muslims nation.
There are some social rules about greeting. For example, the person who enters the specific place, the sitting people, must greet him. If there is young and old, for example, meets outside the home, it is the duty of the young to greet the old. Similarly, Son will greet his father and the other old relatives.
The importance of greeting is visible in several places. For example, Allah gave the order to the Muslims to pay salutation at the end of the Salah. This salutation is an essential part of the Salah.
In the holy book of the Quran, Almighty Allah says that whenever you receive greeting from someone’s side, you must greet him with more than how he greeted you.
Way to greet in Islam
It is necessary to learn how to respectfully greet a Muslim man. The best example in this regard is Allah and His Messenger SAW.
Allah tells us the way of greeting. In Surah Anaam, he says in the holy book,” when some who believe in us, if come to you, Say “Assalamu-Alikum.”
Complete Words of Greeting in islam and Reply
The full words of greeting and reply are as follows.
As-Salam-u-Alikum- wa -Rahmatullahi- Wa-barakatuh is the complete of greeting. While the words of reply is Wa-alikum-malsam-wa-Rahmatullahi-Wa-barakatuh.
The greeting has the beautiful meaning that I will not harm you in any case. Similarly, the reply also has fair means that I will also not have the intention to damage you. It creates a strong bond based on a sense of security, joy, and happiness. This is the way to greet someone.
There are some standard rules that give us insight regarding greeting anyone. If there are the boy and his elder, it is the duty of the boy to greet and respect of the elder. If there are a son and his father, it is the duty of the son to greet his father. If there are a student and the teachers, it is the duty of the student to greet the teacher. The holy Prophet Muhammad SAW said, ‘ that the person who is riding on something should give the Salam to Walking person. The one who is walking should say Salam to sitting person, and the few to many.
Ibn Al-Muthana narrated the same Hadith with further,” The young should give Salam to his elder.”
According to scholars, we should train our children to greet each other. For example, if we wake up in the morning. It is our responsibility to show the children that greeting is important by greeting them.
The powerful way to greet our Muslims brother is to say him” As-Salam-U-Alikum-wa-rahmatullahi-Wa-barakatuh.”
These are the words that spread a sense of security and confidence in each other. How beautiful, meaning it has, “May the peace of Almighty Allah on you, his mercy, and his continuous blessings on you. By these words, a Muslim takes responsibility to provide the other with comfort and ease. Inevitably, it generates a sense of Welcome.
We can easily say it the powerful greeting of Islam.
The importance of greeting according to Ahadith
There are a lot of Hadith, which provide value and significance to greeting.
For example, “the Muslims meet each other and shake their hands, they get their sins forgotten before they leave each other.
Due to the importance of greeting and particularly the way we greet each other when Allah sees us in this condition, he feels pleasure and forgets our sins.
In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad SAW said that the right of a Muslim on another Muslim is that the greeting of the Muslims should be replied.
Abu Huraira narrated that Prophet Muhammad SAW said,” there is five right of Muslims over another Muslims, responding the greeting, When one sneezes, says Yarhamukumullah, When he wants your proposal, give him the best proposal, When he becomes ill, visit him, when he dies, participate in his funeral prayer.
Anas Bin Malik narrated that whenever Prophet Muhammad SAW passed by the boys playing, it was the habit of Prophet Muhammad SAW to greet him with a smile.
According to the Ahadith and the holy book of the Quran, the people in paradise will greet each other in the same words.
The importance of greeting by the Holy book of Quran
The Quran also expressed the importance and significance of greeting.
Allah says in the Quran, “When they will be near the gates, the gates will be widely opened, the gate will welcome them in these words,” Salamu Alikum, you did well, enter (inside) and make it your permanent place.”
Similarly, in another place, Allah says, “those who kept believing in us and acted right, they will be entered in the Garden under which river flows fast to live in forever without the approval of their Lord. The words for their greeting will be Salam.”
In another place, Allah says in the Quran, “O who keeps believing in us, not enter In anyone’s home, enter in your own homes, not until you have requested, and greeted its people. It Is highly preferable for you, which you may reflect.”
Allah also says in the Quran, “Salamun Alikum, for which you born patiently, how beautiful your final destination is.”
The importance of greetings by the holy book of the Quran is visible before all of us. Almighty Allah made it the part of Salah, which is one of the essential pillars of Islam.
Guidelines on Greeting Muslims
As discussed above, the Islamic greeting has Arabic origin; that is why the words of Islamic greeting are from the Arabic language. Across the whole world, the Muslims greet each other in the same words. Due to not familiar with the Arabic language, we often say wrong words.
These wrong words sometimes constitute the meaning wrong, and even we do not know. For example, Sama Lakum is the wrong word, which is often used to express greeting. Turkish people use Quranic expression for the greetings “Asalamun Alikum.”
Some people recommend that the different expression of the words of greeting is due to the user of different language. The Quranic expression of greeting is Assalamun Alikum, which is not difficult. We should use this expression in order to avoid miss pronunciation.
We should be first in greetings without waiting for anyone to say. This is due to the fact that greeting creates feelings of happiness and joy. Then, why should we wait for someone to say the words of greetings?
As a boy, we should greet our elders without waiting to be greeted by them. This is due to an essential concept of honor of our elders. We should feel happy to greet them.
It is not acceptable by the Sharia to greet someone in the room or any other place while offering prayers.
It is of utmost necessity for the people to reply to the greeting in islam beautifully.
It is also not permissible for the young person or the young girl to say a greeting to each other.
It is necessary to reply to the greeting in a better manner. We should not choose the poor way while answering the greeting of someone.
We should not greet anyone who is inside the bathroom or washroom for the purpose of defecation.
Conclusion
We should make the greeting common. The greeting makes common the blessings and rewards of Almighty Allah. It lessens the effect of hatred. Moreover, it is the words of the Quran and the people of paradise.
