Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullah wabarakatuhu.

“Assalamu (or Asalam) alaikum” is the Islamic greeting which literally means ‘Salam (peace) be upon you’. As-Salam (meaning among others, peace) is one of “The 99 Names of Allah”.

According to the eminent Maliki scholar, Qadi Iyad, “salam” means “protection” (muhafaza) so “asalamu alaikum” means “May Allah’s protection and care be with you.” He expresses that it is a dua (prayer) in the meaning of “May Allah be with you”.

In Kutub al Sitta, “according to this opinion, a person who greets another one with “asalamu alaikum” tells him that, “You are safe with me, I will never do you any harm, do not be frightened”

There are also extended versions of the greeting as “Asalamu alaikum wa rahmatulLah” (May the peace and mercy of Allah be with you) and “Asalamu alaikum wa rahmatulLahi wa barakatuh” (May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you).

Allah says: “When a greeting is offered you, answer it with an even better greeting, or (at least) with its like. God keeps account of all things.” (Surah an-Nisa; 4: 86).

Allah also says: “But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah (i.e. say: Asalam ‘Alaikum), blessed and good.” (Al-Noor 24:61).

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when asked who should “begin” the salama said: “The one who is riding should greet the one who is walking, and the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting, and the smaller group should greet the larger group.” (Bukhari 6234; Muslim 2160).

Why then are people ‘selective’ especially in responding to tasleem (greeting), when the same ‘greeting’ is used after every wajib (obligatory) and nawafil (supererogatory) prayers?

Prophet Muhammad said, “The Jews do not envy you for anything more than they do for the greeting of peace and saying ameen.”

But why would the Jews be envious of our greeting? The word ‘Salam’, is a constant reminder of the special relationship between a believer and Allah.

I sometimes asked Muslims who return my ‘salama’ with ‘welcome’ or ‘how are you’, “Did you hear what I said?” Some would immediately apologise and return the greeting appropriately.

Wikipedia even quoted a saying in Buhari: “Umar (RA) reports that he was riding with Abu Bakr (RA) on one mount. When they passed by some people. Abu Bakr greeted them saying: ‘Assalamu alaikum’ and they replied: ‘Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu Allah.’ Abu Bakr (RA) commented: “Today, people have gained much more than us.”

This saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also widely known as reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): “A Muslim has a right against his fellow Muslim in six ways.’ Asked what were these, the Prophet said: W”hen you meet him, greet him; If he invites you, accept his invitation; If he seeks your advice, give him an honest and sincere advice; If he sneezes and praises God, bless him; If he falls ill, visit him; and If he dies, attend his funeral.”

The Hadith is clear in making it a duty of a Muslim to offer a greeting to his fellow Muslim when they meet. The one who takes the initiative is in a better position. Although offering a greeting is a sunnah, which means that it is highly recommended, returning a greeting is obligatory (Surah an-Nisa; 4: 86).

The other five aspects also help to cement relations within the Muslim community. All of them fall within the category of sunnah, except for giving an honest advice, which is obligatory. A person who is asked for advice commits a sin if he deliberately and knowingly gives the wrong advice. To do so is dishonest, and dishonesty is forbidden in Islam.

I remember an incident when our Islamic teacher, Ustaz Ibrahim Akilapa, taught us on the importance of salama and, to get the greater reward, we started competing on who would first say Asalam alaikum to the other.

Such reinforces the importance of ‘carrying our children along’ in every aspect of our life. But how do we show them the beauty of salama when we ourselves are not imbibing its spirit?

Love is one of the duties of Islam and one of the fundamental pillars of the Islamic system. One should give salama to those whom one knows and those whom one does not know, in asmuch as they believe and profess Islam without discrimination and out of sincerity towards Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also explained the reward earned by the one who says the salama, as was reported by al-Nisa’i, (368), Bukhari in al (586) and by Ibn Hibban (493), as reported from Abu Hurayrah that, “A man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) whilst he was sitting with some others, and said “Salaam ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).” The Prophet said, “[he will have] 10 hasanat (rewards).” Another man passed by and said “Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).” The Prophet said, “[he will have] 20 hasanat.” Another man passed by and said “Salam ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allahi wa barakatuhu (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings).” The Prophet said, “[he will have] 30 hasanat.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, if we are not ‘enjoying’ the beauty of salama here on earth, how do we think we will ‘enjoy’ it in hereafter – ma sha Allahu - in Janahtul-firdaus (paradise) replying the Angels and fellow inhabitants of the Garden?

Written by Abbas Jimoh (published in Daily trust news paper)

JazakAllahu Khairan

tbaba1234: JazakAllahu Khairan

WAyiyakum