Riyad As-Salihin: Chapter 6

A man asked the Messenger of Allah (PbUH): "Which act in Islam is the best?" He (PbUH) replied, "To give food, and to greet everyone, whether you know or you do not."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "When Allah created Adam (PbUH), He said to him: 'Go and greet that company of angels who are sitting there - and then listen to what they are going to say in reply to your greetings because that will be your greeting and your off-spring's.' Adam (PbUH) said to the angels: 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum (may you be safe from evil).' They replied: 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah (may you be safe from evil, and Mercy of Allah be upon you).' Thus adding in reply to him: 'wa Rahmatullah (and Mercy of Allah)' to his greeting."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) commanded us to do seven things: to visit the sick, to follow the funeral (of a dead believer), to invoke the Mercy of Allah upon one who sneezes (i.e., by saying to him: Yarhamuk- Allah), to support the weak, to help the oppressed, to promote the greeting of 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum', and to help those who swear to do something to keep their oaths.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my life! You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Promote greetings amongst yourselves."[Muslim].

I heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) saying, "O people, exchange greetings of peace (i.e., say: As-Salamu 'Alaikum to one another), feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace."[At- Tirmidhi].

I used to visit 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) in the morning and accompany him to the market. 'Abdullah offered greetings of peace to every one he met on the way, be they sellers of petty goods, traders or poor people. One day when I came to him, he asked me to accompany him to the market. I said to him: "What is the point of your going to the market when you do not sell, nor ask about articles, nor offer a price for them, nor sit down with any company of people. Let us sit down here and talk." He replied: "O Abu Batn (belly)! (Tufail had a large belly), we go to the market to greet everyone we meet."[Malik].

A man came to the Prophet (PbUH) and said: "As-Salamu 'Alaikum (may you be safe from evil). Messenger of Allah (PbUH) responded to his greeting and the man sat down. The Prophet (PbUH) said, "Ten (meaning the man had earned the merit of ten good acts)." Another one came and said: "As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah (may you be safe from evil, and Mercy of Allah be upon you)." Messenger of Allah (PbUH) responded to his greeting and the man sat down. Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Twenty." A third one came and said: "As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (may you be safe from evil, and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be upon you)." Messenger of Allah (PbUH) responded to his greeting and the man sat down. Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Thirty."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to me, "This is Jibril (Gabriel) who is conveying you greetings of peace." I responded: "Wa 'Alaihis-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (may he be safe from evil, and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be upon him)."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (PbUH) used to repeat his words thrice so that the meaning thereof would be fully understood, and whenever he came upon a gathering of people, he would greet them. He would repeat Salam thrice.[Al- Bukhari].

We used to reserve for the Prophet (PbUH) his share of the milk, and he would come at night and offer greetings in such a manner as did not disturb those asleep and was heard only by those who were awake. In fact, the Prophet (PbUH) came and offered greetings as usual.[Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) passed through the mosque one day and there was a group of women (about ten of them) sitting in the mosque. He raised his hand to offer greetings.[At- Tirmidhi].

I saw Messenger of Allah (PbUH) and said: "Alaikas-Salamu ya Rasulallah! (Upon you be peace, O Messenger of Allah)!" He said, "Do not say: 'Alaikas-Salamu (Upon you be peace).' This is the Salam to the dead."[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, 'A rider should greet a pedestrian; a pedestrian should greet one who is sitting; and a small group should greet a large group (of people).''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Al-Bukhari adds: Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "The young should greet the elderly.''

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "The person nearest to Allah is one who is the first to offer greeting."

[Abu Dawud].

The narration in At-Tirmidhi is: The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When two persons meet, who should greet the other first?'' The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "The person nearest to Allah (i.e., one who is more obedient and therefore closer to Allah will say: As-Salam first."

He came to the Prophet (PbUH) and greeted him. The Prophet (PbUH) responded to the greeting and said, "Go back and repeat your Salat because you have not performed the Salat (properly).'' He again performed Salat as he had prayed before and came to the Prophet (PbUH) and greeted him. The Prophet (PbUH) responded to the greetings (and repeated his words to him). This act of repeating (the Salat and the Salam) was done thrice.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "When one of you meets a brother (in Faith) he should greet him. Then if a tree or a wall or a stone intervenes between them and then he meets him again, he should greet him."[Abu Dawud].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to me, "Dear son, when you enter your house, say As- Salamu 'Alaikum to your family, for it will be a blessing both to you and to your family."[At-Tirmidhi].

"Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to do the same."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

There was a woman among us who would put beet root in a pot and add to it some ground barley. She used to cook them together. On returning from the Friday prayer, we would greet her and she would offer it to us.

[Al-Bukhari].

I went to the Prophet (PbUH) on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He was taking a bath and Fatimah was screening him with a cloth. I greeted him. And she mentioned the rest of the Hadith.

[Muslim].

The Prophet (PbUH) passed by us when we were with a party of women, and he greeted us.[Abu Dawud].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you; and when you meet any one of them on the road, force him to go to the narrowest part of it."

[Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "When the people of the Book greet you (i.e., by saying 'As-Samu 'Alaikum,' meaning death be upon you), you should respond with: 'Wa 'alaikum' [The same on you (i.e., and death will be upon you, for no one will escape death)]."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PbUH) passed by a mixed company of people which included Muslims, polytheists and Jews, and he gave them the greeting (i.e., saying As- Salamu 'Alaikum).[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer Salam to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart. The first act of greeting is not more meritorious than the last.''

[Abu Dawud].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Permission is to be sought thrice. If it is accorded, you may enter; otherwise, go back."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Seeking permission to enter (somebody's house) has been prescribed in order to restrain the eyes (from looking at something we are not supposed to look at)."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A man of Banu 'Amir tribe has told us that he had asked the Prophet (PbUH) for permission to enter when he was at home. He said: "May I enter?" Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to the servant, "Go out and instruct him about the manner of seeking permission. Tell him to say: As-Salamu 'Alaikum (may you be safe from evil). May I come in?" The man heard this and said: "As-Salamu 'Alaikum (may you be safe from evil). May I come in?" The Prophet (PbUH) then accorded permission to him and he entered in.[Abu Dawud].

I visited the Prophet (PbUH) and I entered his house without seeking permission. So he said, "Go back and say: 'As-Salamu 'alaikum (may you be safe from evil). May I come in?"'[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

`Who is there?' He replied: `Jibril.' He was asked: `Who is with you?' He said: `Muhammad.' Then he ascended to the second heaven and requested for the opening of the gate. He was asked: `Who is there?' He said: `Jibril.' He was asked: `Who is with you?' He replied: `Muhammad.' In the same way he ascended to the third, fourth and all the heavens (i.e., until the seventh). At all of the gates he was asked: `Who is there?' He replied: Jibril.'''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I stepped out one night and saw Messenger of Allah (PbUH) walking by himself. I began to walk in the moonlit night. He turned round and saw me and asked, "Who is there?" I replied: "Abu Dharr."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

I went to the Prophet (PbUH) who was taking a bath while Fatimah was screening him. He asked, "Who is there?" I replied: "I am Umm Hani."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

I went to the Prophet (PbUH) and knocked at the door (to seek permission). He asked, "Who is there?" I said: "I". He repeated, " I, I?!" as if he disliked it.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning. When any one of you sneezes and says `Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)', it becomes obligatory upon every Muslim who hears him to respond with `Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)'. Yawning is from the devil. When one of you feels like yawning, he should restrain it as much as possible, for the devil laughs when one of you yawns."

[Al-Bukhari].

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "When one of you sneezes he should say: 'Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah),' and his brother or his companion should say to him: 'Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you).' When he says this he should reply: 'Yahdikum-ullah wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs)."'[Al- Bukhari].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "When one of you sneezes and praises Allah (i.e., says Al-hamdu lillah), you should invoke Allah's Mercy upon him (i.e., say Yarhamuk-Allah); but if he does not praise Allah, you should not make a response." [Muslim].

When two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet (PbUH), he responded to one with "Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)" and did not respond to the other. The latter said to him: "You invoked a blessing on this man but did not do so in my case." The Prophet (PbUH) replied, "He praised Allah (i.e., he said 'Al-hamdu lillah') but you did not."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) sneezed, he would cover his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth, suppressing the sound this way.[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

The Jews used to intentionally sneeze in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) hoping that he would say to them: 'Yarhamukum-ullah (may Allah have mercy on you),' but he would respond with: "Yahdikum-ullahu wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs)."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "When one yawns, he should put his hand over his mouth, otherwise the devil will enter."[Muslim].

I asked Anas: "Did the Companions of Messenger of Allah (PbUH) use to shake hands?'' He said: "Yes.''

[Al-Bukhari].

When the people of Yemen came, the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "The people of Yemen have visited you. They are the first to introduce the tradition of handshaking."[Abu Dawud].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said, "Two Muslims will not meet and shake hands without having their sins forgiven (by Allah ) before they depart."[Abu Dawud].

A man asked: "O Messenger of Allah! When a man meets a brother or a friend, should he bow to him?" He said, "No." The man asked whether he should embrace and kiss him? The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) replied, "No." He asked whether he should hold his hand and shake it? The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) replied, "Yes."[At-Tirmidhi].

A Jew asked his companion to take him to the Prophet (PbUH); and when they came to the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), they asked him about the nine clear signs (given to Prophet Musa). Safwan narrated the long Hadith which concludes: They kissed the hands and feet of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) and said: "We testify that you are a Prophet."[At-Tirmidhi] (Unapproved Hadith).

"We came near the Prophet (PbUH) and kissed his hand."[Abu Dawud] (Weak Hadith).

Zaid bin Harithah came to the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) when he was in my house. Zaid knocked at the door. The Prophet (PbUH) rose to receive him, trailing his garment. He embraced and kissed him.[At- Tirmidhi].

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to me, "Do not belittle any good deed, even your meeting with your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face."[Muslim].

The Prophet (PbUH) kissed his grandson Hasan bin 'Ali in the presence of Aqra' bin Habis. Thereupon Aqra' remarked: "I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them." The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) cast a glance upon him and said, "He who does not show mercy to others, will not be shown mercy."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].