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“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it or (at least) return it equally.” (Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:86).
Allahuakbar, no one can count the number of virtues in Islam. How can we explain this verse, the blessing of almighty Allah on us can never be estimated.
The Prophet said, “Allah created Adam in his complete shape and form (directly), sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in height. When He created him, He said (to him), “Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen to what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.” Adam (went and) said, 'As-Salamualaikum (Peace be upon you).' They replied, 'AsSalamu-'AlaikawaRahmatullah (Peace and Allah's Mercy be on you) So they increased ‘WaRahmatullah' The Prophet added 'So whoever will enter Paradise, will be of the shape and form of Adam. Since then the creation of Adam's (offspring) (i.e. stature of human beings is being diminished continuously) to the present time.”
Human as being social creation interact among themselves but Islam gives it the necessary guideline to this important facet of every society. The phenomena of greetings across different culture are void of universality and also bring about disparity, dispute and ethnocentrism.
The verse of the glorious Qur'an earlier cited holds enormous wisdoms and teachings and posits greeting as an avenue for Muslims to garner reward. This verse has been explained in one Hadith when a man asked the Prophet about which aspect of Islam was best. The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) replied: “Feeding the hungry and saying salaam to those you know and those you don't know.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) also said: “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another: May I tell you something, that if you practice it you will love one another? 'spread salaam' (the greeting of peace) among you.” (Muslim).
The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) said: “The best of the two persons is the one who begins with salaam.” (Related by Nawawi in his book Al-Adhkaar)
“The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) was asked: 'O Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam)! When two persons meet with each other, who should take the lead in greeting the other? He answered: 'The one who is closest to Allah.” (Tirmithi)
The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) said: “The person closest to Allah is the one who precedes others in greeting.” (Abu Dawud).
The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) also said: A mounted person should greet the one who is walking, and a person on foot should greet the one who is sitting; a smaller group should greet a larger group and the young should greet their elders. (Saheeh Bukhari).
The virtue of Greeting was crowned by other sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam). “When two Muslims meet (give salaam), and shake hands, they are forgiven their sins before they part (with each other).” (Abu Dawud)
Finally, reflect on another saying of the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam), when he said: “O people! Spread salaam, feed the hungry, be in touch with your kin, and pray while people are asleep (at night) you shall enter paradise peacefully.” (Tirmithi)
Levels of Tesleem
Everything in this life is hierarchy and deeds are rewarded according to hierarchy attained. There is a Hadith where Imran Ibn Hussayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that: “A man came to the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) and said, 'assalaamu 'alaykum!' The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) returned his greeting and when the man sat down, the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) said: 'Ten.' Another man came and said: 'assalaamu 'alaykumwarahmatullah.' to which the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) also responded, and when the man sat down, He said 'Twenty.' Another man came and said: 'assalaamu 'alaykumwarahmatullahiwabarakatuh.' The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) returned his greeting, and after the man sat down, he said: 'Thirty.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)
The Hadith has been interpreted to mean that the minimum form of the Islamic greeting which is acceptable is “assalaamu 'alaykum” and one is rewarded ten good deeds for saying it. The second grade, adding “warahmatullah”, raises the reward to twenty good deeds. The best grade of salaam is “assalaamualaykumwarahmatullahiwabarakatahu”, and this is worth thirty good deeds.
The response to the greeting is similar in form and rewards. The least one could say is “Waalaykum-us-salaam” and the best response is: “Wa 'alaykum-us-salaam warahmatulahiwabarakatahu”.
In the time of the Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet) would compete with one another, to see who could give salaams first.
Etiquette of Islamic Greeting!
Initiating tesleem is a rewardable deed and considered Sunnah i.e. optional but responding to the tesleem after it is offered is obligatory. Islam also encourages people to offer the first greeting as enjoined by the prophet.
How do the Muslims Greet?
The Prophet was asked about the most appropriate way to give tesleem“O Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam)! When any one of us meets a Muslim brother or a friend then should he bow his head (as a sign of courtesy to him)?' He said: 'No.' The man said: 'Should he embrace him?' He said: 'No.' The man then asked: 'Should he clasp his hands?' He said: 'Yes.” (Tirmithi, Hadith No:2728)
It is clear from the above narration that the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited us from bowing in front of a brother or friend. Therefore, to bow down to another will also be prohibited.
One may argue that it can also be deduced from the above narration that to embrace another is prohibited too, so why are we allowed to embrace others? The answer to this is that from other narrations it is clear that to embrace another is permissible (as long as it is done within and according to the dictates of Sharia) therefore to embrace another will be permissible. Conversely, this is not the case for bowing down in front of another because there are no other narrations that clearly permit bowing down in front of another. Besides, bowing is something done exclusively for Allah, the Almighty.
Additionally, the Jurists (fuqaha) also state that it is prohibitively disliked (makruhtahreeman) to bow down in front of another because it resembles the acts of fire worshippers.
We as Muslims should remember that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is of the best exemplary character for us to follow in all aspects of our life, and we should be careful not to engage in anything alien to the massage of Islam.
Prostration, bending, kneeling and bowing are of the greatest forms of worship and is due only to Allah, it is the ibaadah that is performed by all creatures as Allah says “See you not that whatever is in the heavens and on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawâbb [moving (living) creatures, beasts], and many of mankind prostrate themselves to Allâh. But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allâh disgraces, none can honour him. Verily, Allah does what He wills”. (Soorah al-Hajj, Q22V18).
Allah (S.W.A) also says in the Qur'an
And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allâh who created them, if you (really) worship Him. But if they are too proud (to do so), then there are those who are with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired. (SoorahFussilat, Q41V37&38).
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam) also forbids bowing or bending in greeting as we have seen in the above quoted hadith and another hadith that was authentically reported from Abu Hurayrah (radiyallaahu 'anhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If I were to order anyone to prostrate to a human, I would have ordered the wife to prostrate to her husband, for the magnitude of the rights he has on her. (Irwaahulghaleel of Sheikh al-Albaanee, 7/54-55). The Prophet even forbids the women to do it for their husbands because it can only be done for Allaah (Subhaanahuwata'aalaa) alone.
In conclusion, tradition or cultural way of greeting contradicted this, most culture embrace prostration, bowing, incessant hugging and lots more but this should not hinder the Muslims in obeying their command of their prophet as Allah said “Oh you who believe enter perfectly in Islam whole heartedly (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps. verily! he is to you a plain enemy.
To my Sunnah loving brethrensthat are calling to the message of Islam, I enjoin you to call unto the straight path with wisdom and good admonition, the message is clear enough, ex-communicating people falling in this action will not help us, it'll rather complicate it, I bessech Allah's rahmon to abide with the entirety of Islamic nation, SubhanakaAllahumoWabihamdihi, AstagfirulahaWaatubuilaehi.
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