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 Muslim 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.
How do Muslims greet each other?
People around the world have their methods of greeting each other. One of the most common is for English people to say hi or hello. People from India often say namaste. French speakers say bonjour, while Japanese speakers say Konnichiwa. However, Muslims aren’t bound by language or similar barriers that most people worldwide ascribe to. Instead, Muslims of all languages utilize one greeting that is meaningful.
That greeting is Assalamu alaikum. It means ‘May peace be upon you.’ However, a more extended version of the greeting is ‘Asssalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabaraktuh.’ It means ‘May peace be upon and the mercy and blessings of Allah.’ It is known as the Salam. When a person says the salam, it is compulsory for the person hearing it to reply.
The Prophet (PBUH) described giving salam as one of the best things a Muslim can do. It is an act of good-heartedness and kindness that builds love and friendship between Muslims. It also removes hostility and feelings of evil in a group. Hence, we should give salam to people that we encounter regularly. Whether we know them or we don’t, it doesn’t matter. We should always do so.
Origin of Islamic Muslim Greeting
First, when we see the holy book of the Quran, we find its description.
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.”
Our beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Believe me, you cannot enter paradise if you are not one of us. You will never become a true believer until your hearts melt with love for each other and all those around us.” 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
The greeting is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. He also emphasized spreading the greeting.
Similarly, our Prophet Muhammad SAW said that one Muslim has five responsibilities over another. One of these five is the greeting. It means that 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 in the Muslim nation.
Social rules of Muslim greeting
There are some social rules about greeting. For example, the person who enters the specific place, the sitting people, must welcome him. If there are young and old, for example, meeting outside the home, it is the duty of the young to greet the old. Similarly, Son will greet his father and the other ancient relatives.
Way to greet in Islam
It is necessary to learn how to do Muslim greetings respectfully. The best example in this regard is ALLAH, and His Messenger SAW.Allah tells us how to greet. 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 Muslim 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 means 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 security, joy, and happiness. It is the way to greet someone.
Some standard rules give us insight regarding greeting anyone. If there are the boy and his elder, the boy must greet and welcome the elder. If there are a son and his father, the son must greet his father. The student must greet the teacher if there are a student and the teacher. The holy Prophet Muhammad SAW said, ‘that the person riding on something should give the Salam to Walking person. The one walking should say Salam to the sitting person, and the few to many.
Ibn Al-Muthana further narrated the same Hadith: “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. Our responsibility is to show the children that greeting is important by greeting them.
The powerful greeting in Islam
The powerful way to greet our Muslims brother is to say him” As-Salam-U-Alikum-wa-rahmatullahi-Wa-barakatuh.”
These words 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 for providing others with comfort and ease. Inevitably, it generates a sense of Welcome.
We can easily say it is the powerful greeting of Islam.
The importance of muslim 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, and 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 to 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 other Muslims, responding to 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 muslim greeting by the Holy book of the 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.”
The Garden of Eden is where people go after death to live forever with God. Similarly, those who believe and act right will be entered into the eternal home under a river that flows fastThe words for their greeting will be Salam.”
In another place, Allah says in the Quran,
The importance of greetings in the holy book of the Quran is visible before all of us. Almighty Allah made it part of Salah, one of the essential pillars of Islam.
Guidelines on Muslim Greeting
As discussed above, the Islamic greeting has Arabic origin; that is why the words of the Islamic greeting are from the Arabic language. Across the whole world, the Muslims greet each other in the exact words. Due to not being familiar with the Arabic language, we often say the wrong words.
USE OF RIGHT WORDS
These wrong words sometimes constitute the meaning wrong, and even we do not know. For example, Sama Lakum is the wrong word, often used to express a greeting. Turkish people use Quranic expressions for the greeting “Asalamun Alikum.”
Some people recommend that the different expression of the words of greeting is due to the user of a different language. The Quranic expression of greeting is Assalamun Alikum, which is not difficult. We should use this expression to avoid miss pronunciation.
We should be first in greeting without waiting for anyone to say. It is because greeting creates feelings of happiness and joy. Then, why should we wait for someone to say the words of greetings?
As youngsters, we should greet our elders without waiting to be greeted by them. It is due to an essential concept of honour of our elders. We should feel happy to greet them.
ETIQUETTEs OF MUSLIM GREETING
- The Sharia does not accept greeting 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 inside the bathroom or washroom for 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.
