Excellence Of Salaam(السلام)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم), observed:

"You shall not enter paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith)and you will not believe as long as you Do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which,if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i.e.) give currency to (the practice of paying Salutation to one another by saying) السلام عليكم Assalamu'alaikum."

EXCELLENCE OF SALAAM (السلام)

Two people related by faith should use the expression of peace and security to address each other. Thus Islaam taught Muslims to say: السلام عليكم (Assalamu Alaykum) [Peace be upon you), and replaced all other formulas of greeting. Salaam is also the greeting used in Paradise. In this small greeting is hidden an excellent and comprehensive prayer, kindness and affection for the young, and respect and attention for the elders.

Almighty Allah employs the same greeting in the Glorious Quraan to address His beloved Prophets as a mark of His favour and esteem on them.

• "Peace be unto Nuh among the people" (37:79)
• "Peace be unto Ibrahim" (37:109)
• "Peace be unto Musa and Harun" (37:120)
• "Peace be unto Ilyas" (37:130)
• "Peace be unto those sent (to warn)" (37:59)
• "Peace be on His slaves whom He hath chosen" (27:59).

Believers will also be welcomed into Paradise with the same expression:

• "Enter them in Peace" (15:46) and
• "Peace be unto you because you preserved. Ah, passing sweet will be the sequel of the (heavenly) home" (13:24).

Salaam is a distinctive practice of Islaam and Muslims have been recommended to make common the greeting

• The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم), said: "Oh people! Worship Allah, The Beneficent, feed His bondsmen, and spread Salaam much, and you will reach Heaven in safety." (Tirmidhi)

Divine reward for the blessed act of performing Salaam is explained in a Hadith

• Once a person came to the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), and said: "Assalaamu Alaykum." The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), returned the greeting, and when the man had sat down, he said: "Ten good deeds have been written in his name owing to this Salaam." Thereafter another person came and said: "السلام عليكم ورحمة الله(Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullah)" (Peace be with you, and the mercy of Allah). The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), returned the greeting, and when the man had sat down, he said: "Twenty good deeds have been written in his name." Then, another man came and said: "السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته(Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh)" (Peace be with you, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings). The Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), returned the greeting, and when the man had sat down, he said: "Thirty good deeds have been written in his name." (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood)

Such was the value of Salaam in the early Muslims that it is related Abdullah bin Umar, Radhiyallo Anhu, would go to the market solely for the purpose of making greeting to whoever he saw.

Salaam has a deep spiritual side besides signifying the sentiments of joy, regard and well-wishing

• The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم), said: "He who is the first to greet is free from pride." (Baihaqi)

Therefore to take precedence in making the greeting is a sign of freedom from vanity. It can also mean it is a cure for the grave sin of pride. The importance of Salaam is further emphasized by the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم), who advised that Salaam should be exchanged a second time if after meeting a Muslim, even for a brief moment, they are separated by a tree, wall, or rock, and they meet again.

Salaam should be said when entering or leaving one's home

A Hadith informs us that this is a source of blessing to the person saying it as well to the family members. Similarly, the person arriving at a congregation should be the first to greet those who are present; the young are instructed to take the lead in greeting the elders; those passing should greet those sitting; and men of a smaller group should greet men of the larger group. To shake the hand simultaneously with greeting marks the fulfilment of the aim and object of Salaam.

• The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم), said: "Shaking hands denotes the completion of greeting.(Tirmidhi and AbuDawood)

Salaam is in essence a really wonderful teaching of  Islaam

It not only increases love and affection between Muslims but is also a cause of their forgiveness. 

• The Prophet of Allah, Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم), said: “When two Muslims meet and shake hands, and at the same time glorify Allah, and beg forgiveness for themselves, they will be forgiven." (Abu Dawood)
  
  

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