The Most Important Sunnah

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

 

Invitation to Islam

 

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

 

•     لَقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِىۡ رَسُوۡلِ اللّٰهِ اُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَنۡ كَانَ يَرۡجُوا اللّٰهَ وَالۡيَوۡمَ الۡاٰخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيۡرًا ؕ‏
  Verily in the messenger of Allah you have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much.
  Holy Qur’an (33:21)

•     اِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَمَلٰٓٮِٕكَتَهٗ يُصَلُّوۡنَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ ؕ يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا صَلُّوۡا عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُوۡا تَسۡلِيۡمًا
  Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.
  Holy Qur’an (33:56)

Here is an Important question for a Muslim who loves his/her Creator...

The Prophet of Islam Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم], did many things during his life that are indeed worth remembering and undeniably worth following by the Believers. But, what was the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] that none could or should ever overlook…

There are number of individuals and also large and small “Groups of Brothers”, who traveled long distances from their homes, to inform and repeatedly remind our Muslim Brothers and Sisters at great length, the minuscule details of how the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] dressed himself, behaved and lived his simple and honest life. I wish and pray that these individuals and Groups would also propagate the primary purpose and the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم]’s life with the equal prominence, if not more.

One may ask what was the most important mission that the prophet accomplished against all the odds and earned Allah’s Choicest pleasure? OR; What was the mission which Allah (S.W.T.) did not want the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] to fail into or to overlook? The answer is found in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an.

•     يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرَّسُوۡلُ بَلِّغۡ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ‌ ؕ وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسٰلَـتَهٗ‌ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ‏
  O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou will not have conveyed His message. Allah will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.
  Holy Qur’an (5:67)

Going back to the subject of the primary purpose and the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم]’s life, we discover from the Qur’an and the history that it was of INVITING those who were “outside”, to enter the Deen of Allah. Besides inviting the Pagan Arabs to Islam, the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] also conveyed the Revealed Message of Allah to the “People of the Book”. History records that prophet did send several missions to various places and did convey the Message of Allah to the Leaders of the “People of the Book”. He also entertained dialogues with them.

Doing Daw’ah to non Muslims and in particular to the “People of the Book” should be the Mission of those who regard the prophet to be “a good example for him”. Since large number of Christians are entering Islam in our times, it is worth devoting more time and effort in that direction. Our duty is to convey the Message of Allah which appears in the Torah, the Injeel and the Furqan with a suggestion of observing these True Messages that have been over shadowed by the non revealed guidance. If any who fails to judge by what Allah has Revealed therein, they are those who rebel.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, this is no undue criticism of any particular group or any individual, but an eye opener for all the Believers who wish to preacher put into practice – the life style of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم].

• وَيَقُوۡلُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا لَوۡلَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ اٰيَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّهٖؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُنۡذِرٌ‌ وَّ لِكُلِّ قَوۡمٍ هَادٍ
  …But thou (O, Muhammad) art truly a Warner, and to /every people a Guide.
  Holy Qur’an (13:7)
  

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Is celebrating of Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم) is Acceptable?

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

The Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم]said:

• Verily,Allaah veils the tawbah from every innovator until he leaves his innovation'' [Ibn Abee Aasim#37 and declared Saheeh by Sh Al Albaani rahimahullah]

 
The Prophet himself (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not do this or command anyone to do it, either during his lifetime or after his death. There is nothing in the Qur’aan to say that we should celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

• Indeed, he told them not to exaggerate about him as the Christians had exaggerated about Jesus (upon whom be peace). He said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allaah and His Messenger.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari).

Moreover, we know that the Sahaabah (May Allah be pleased with them) were the people who loved the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم] most.
Was it reported that Abu Bakr(RA), who was the closest of people to him and the one who loved him the most, celebrated the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?

Was it reported that ‘Umar(RA), who ruled for twelve years, or ‘Uthmaan(RA), did this? Was it reported that ‘ Ali(RA), his relative and foster son, did this? Was it reported that any of the Sahaabah did this? No, by Allaah!

Is it because they were not aware of its importance, or did they not truly love the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم]? No one would say such a thing except one who has gone astray and is leading others astray.
    Did any of the Imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Seereen – do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? By Allah, no!

 **It was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries.

• The Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم] said in a saheeh hadith: “The best of mankind are my generation (or my century), then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then there will come a people who will not care if their testimony comes before their oath or vice versa (i.e., they will not take such matter seriously).” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).  

The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم]’s birthday appeared many centuries later, when many of the features of true religion had vanished and bid’ah had become widespread.
Thus this celebration became a sign of one’s love for the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم]?
But can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the imaams and the people of the best three centuries were unaware of it, and it was only those who came later who were aware of its importance?!

What the Qur’aan tells us is that love of the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم] is demonstrated by following the guidance he brought. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

• “Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
• Say: ‘Obey Allaah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allaah does not like the disbelievers.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31-32]

The first aayah explains that love is just a claim, but the proof of sincerity is following what the Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم] brought.

The second Aayah reaffirms the importance and necessity of obeying Allaah and His Messenger Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم]. Hence Allaah ended the aayah with a very stern warning in which those who refuse to obey are described as kaafirs, and Allah does not love the disbelievers.
We ask Allaah to keep us safe from that. Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم] told us of the danger of not obeying him, and the danger of adding to what he brought.

The celebration of Mawlid or his birthday is indeed an addition to what he brought – as all the scholars agree.

• He said: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” (Reported by Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).

      Allah SWT knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم].

We ask Allah SWT to protect us from bid’ah and to bless us by helping us to follow.

Aameen

Al-Jumuah(Friday)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

✦ Jumuah(Friday)✦

It was narrated that Abu Lubaabah ibn ‘Abd al-Mundhir said: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allaah...." ►[Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1084; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2279]

••••►Following are the sunnahs which we can do and get reward on Jumuah (Friday):

❂ Praying Fajr in congregation ❂

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best prayer before Allaah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.” ►[Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1119]

❂ Salaat al-Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) ❂

1 ➲ Bathing on the day of Jumuah

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "If one of you comes to Jumuah, let him have a bath." ►[Bukhari & Muslim: #1951 & #977]

2 ➲ Going early to Jumuah prayer

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "When Friday comes, at each door of the mosque there are angels who write down the first ones to come to the mosque. The one who comes early is like who sacrificed a camel, then those who come after him are like one who sacrificed a cow, then one who sacrificed a horned ram, then one who sacrificed a chicken, then like one who offered an egg. Then when the imaam sits down they close their books and come to listen to the sermon." ►[Bukhari & Muslim: #929 & #1964]

3 ➲ Walks to Jumu’ah prayer, for every step he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.

It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws al-Thaqafi that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday and causes (his wife) to do ghusl, and sets out early, and comes close to the imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.►” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 496; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 410]

4 ➲ Listening attentively to the Jumu’ah Khutbah (Sermon)

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If you say to your companion, ‘Listen attentively’ on a Friday, when the imam is delivering the khutbah, then you have engaged in idle speech.” ►[Narrated by al-Bukhaari (934) and Muslim (851)] ~ Read here for further information regarding 'The virtue of listening attentively to the Jumu’ah khutbah': http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/89575


❂ Seeking the hour of having one's prayer answered on Jumuah day ❂

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the day of Jumuah was mentioned and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam said: "On this day there is a time when no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allaah for something, but Allaah will grant him it" – and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short that time is. ►[Bukhari & Muslim: #935 & #1969] ~ Read here for further information regarding 'the hour of response': http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/21748

❂ Reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday ❂

“Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” ►(Narrated by al-Haakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249. Ibn Hajar said in Takhreej al-Adhkaar that this is a hasan hadeeth, and he said, this is the strongest report that has been narrated concerning reading Soorat al-Kahf. See: Fayd al-Qadeer, 6/198. It was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6470) ~ Read here for further information regarding 'reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday': http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/10700

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Hajj(حج) - Holy Pilgrimage

*DPII Info...

 

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

 

 

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

 

The ritual of Hajj(حج) is performed in the month of  ZulHijjah, the twelfth and last month in the Islamic lunar calendar. In Arabic, the word hajj literally means going to a place for the sake of visiting; and according to the terminology of the Islamic Sharee'ah, it implies to the act of going to the Baitullah in Mecca to observe the necessary devotions related to pilgrimage. The hajj is mandatory upon all able Muslims, men and women, at least once in a lifetime.

Apart from worship of Allah (SWT), the command for hajj offers Muslims the opportunity to interact with their brethren from around the globe. The command concerning the hajj is found in several Qur'anic verses, among them:

• "And when We assigned to Ibraheem the site of the Sacred House (Ka'bah), saying 'Do not associate with Me anything, and purify My House for those who circumambulate the Ka'bah, and those who stand up and prostrate and bow in prayer. And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men, and they will come to you on foot and mounted on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways." [Surah Al-Hajj: Verse 26-27].

The verse above confirms that Prophet Ibraheem (Alaihissalaam.) worshipped at the Sacred House of Allah SWT (Baitullah - another name of Ka'bah) long before the advent of Judaism or Christianity.

For that matter, some Bibilical historians say that he lived in the first half of the second millennium B.C, that is prior to the establishment of the Indus civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro; hence, prior to the birth of Hinduism. By virtue of it being the fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj literally makes Islam the oldest religion on earth.The hajj today is the largest gathering of human beings on earth.

Besides this annual ritual, there is a lesser hajj known as Umrah that can be performed at any time during the year except on the days of the greater hajj, specifically from 9th till 13th of ZulHijjah.

On the benefit of hajj, Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that he heard the Prophet SAW say:

"Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any Rafath (obscenity) or Fusooq (transgression), he returns (free from sin) as the day his mother bore him." [Bukhari]

There are three categories of hajj: Tamattu', Qiraan and Ifraad. In brief,

• Tamattu' refers to the act of performing umrah in the month of hajj.
• Qiraan, on the other hand, refers to a pilgrim who performs hajj and umrah jointly;
• Ifraad means that a pilgrim wears the ihraam for hajj only and he/she performs his umrah only after completing the greater hajj.

The most beautiful aspect of hajj is the uniformity. All the pilgrims have to do exactly the same acts at the same sites around Mecca on four days consecutively. All wear the ihraam garb, a great majority of which is white in color.

Once the ihraam is donned and the intention for hajj uttered, male pilgrims are prohibited from wearing stitched clothes, shoes that cover the anklebone, a hat or turban or anything that covers the head. Women are prohibited from wearing the veil that covers their faces (burqaa) and also gloves.

Both men and women are prohibited from wearing any kind of perfume or hair oil, cropping or shaving hair on any part of the body, cut the nails, have sexual intercourse, hunt and kill animals, or to be involved in any form of marriage proposal.

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Anger Management

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم
  

Medicine removes the root cause of disease. When Jesus (Isa’ Alayhimus salaam) was asked to define the most difficult thing, he replied: "Allah's wrath." John the Baptist (Yahya’ Alayhimus salaam) then asked: "What moves one closer to His wrath?" and Jesus(Isa’ Alayhimus salaam) replied: "Anger." Yahya(Alayhimus salaam) than asked: "What grows and increases anger?" and Jesus said: "Pride, prestige, hope for honor, and haughtiness." 

Self-conceit, self-praise, jest and ridicule, argument, treachery, and greed for wealth and fame exacerbate anger. Those who combine these characteristics within themselves manifest unbearable conduct, cannot escape their anger, and can remove them only if they apply their opposites: self-praise by modesty; pride by introspection, greed by remaining satisfied with necessary things, and miserliness by charity. 

• Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "A strong man is not one who defeats his adversary by wrestling, but one who controls his anger." He also said: "No one has swallowed anything excellent in the sight of Allah ...than the anger he restrains, seeking to please Allah most high."

(Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1324)

• It is narated on the authority of Abu Hurayra (Radiallahu Anhu) that a man said to the Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam): "Advise me." Then Prophet(sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam) said: "Don't get angry." He repeated it a number of times. He said: "Don't get angry."

[Al-Bukhari #6116]

Anger can be quelled by mixing six kinds of knowledge and action:

1.        Remember what the Qur'an and Hadith say about controlling one's anger. The hope for obtaining rewards will restrain one from taking revenge.

2.       Fear Allah's punishment and consider it greater than any human punishment.

3.       Realize that there will be consequences to expressing your anger. You may get revenge on your enemy here, but he or she might get revenge on you later on, either here or in the next world.

4.       Remember that an angry person looks like a ferocious beast, while one who appeases his or her anger looks like a sober and learned person.

5.       Ignore Satan, who tells you that you will be weak if you do not become angry.

6.       Ask yourself: "Why should I be angry? What Allah has willed has happened." 

The Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised angry people to say: "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan" (A'udhu billahi min as-Shaytan ar-rajim). 

When 'A'isha(Radhiallaahu Anha) became angry, the Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) told her to say: "O Allah, You are the Lord of my Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Forgive my sins, remove the anger from my heart, and save me from misguidance." 

The Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Anger is a burning coal. Don't you see your eyebrows wide and eyes reddish? So when one of you feels angry, sit down if standing and lie down if sitting." In other words, make yourself calm like the soil if you are still angry. The cause of wrath is heat, and its opposite is to lie on the ground and make the body calm and cool. 

The Prophet Muhmammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) also said: "When one of you gets angry, make ablution with water, as anger arises out of fire." In another narration, he said: "Anger comes from the devil, and the devil is made of fire." In other words, if you are still angry after lying on the ground, make wudu' or ghusl with cold water, for water extinguishes fire. 

Caliph 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said: "The Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not get angry for any action of the world. When any true matter disturbed him nobody knew it, and nobody got up to take revenge for his anger. He got angry only for truth."

Based on Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali's (d.505 AH/1111 CE) book Ihya' 'Ulum ad-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences)

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Authenticity of Tabligh

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

 

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

Allah Ta’ala says in the Noble Qur’an, ‘You are the best of nations sent to man. You command good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah’.
(Aali Imraan).

Allah Ta’ala states that one reason for this Ummah being titled as the best of Ummah, is the practice of commanding good and preventing evil’.

·       Our beloved Prophet Muhammad(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) states, ‘Whosoever from among you witnesses evil, he should change it with his hands. And if he is unable to do so then he should change it with his tongue. And if he is unable to do so with his tongue, then he should at least consider it to be wrong. And this is the weakest stage of Imaan.
(Mishkat)

·       Hadhrat Nuamaan bin Basheer (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave an example of people sailing on a boat having an upper deck and a lower deck. The people from the lower deck require water and request water from the people of the upper deck. The people from the upper deck refuse water so the people from the lower deck decide to make a hole on the floor of the ship and get water from the sea. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘If the people from the upper deck don’t stop the people at the bottom from making a hole, the ship will sink and all the people travelling will drown.
(Mishkat vol. 2 p. 436)

Similarly, if people do not prohibit evil and sin in the society, the entire society – innocent and evil – will equally suffer.

·       Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Anhu) states that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Command good and prohibit evil or else Allah will send such a punishment that will destroy everyone’.
(Ibid). 

The above quotations of the Qur’an and Ahaadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) are clear that commanding good and prohibiting evil is an emphasised injunction of Allah and His Rasool. Every person must carry out this injunction. All the Prophets (Alayhimus salaam) followed the footsteps of their respective Prophets and after the demise of their Prophet, they carried out the same mission. The Sahaaba of Rasulullah (Radhiallaahu Anhum) spent their entire lives in commanding good and prohibiting evil. Since there is no Prophet to come, every Ummati of Rasulullah(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the deputy of the Prophet and he has to carry on the mission of the Prophet. The people of Tabligh Jamaat sacrifice their time, wealth and comforts to undergo difficulty and hardships to go in the path of Allah – to carry out this Sunnah of the Prophets – commanding good and prohibiting evil.

As far as the Tabligh Jamaat is concerned, it is our humble view that they are acting upon this injunction of Allah Ta’ala and are fulfilling this obligation of Shariah. The Jamaat advocates strict adherence to the Sunnah and confirnes itself within the ambit of the Shariah. The purpose of any individual taking part in the Noble work of Tabligh is firstly to reform oneself and dutifully save mankind from the fire of hell. The overwhelming success of the Jamaat is mainly because of the manifestation of the six points which involves the purification of the Naffs and the entity of Tawheed.

The word, ‘Tashkeel’, literally means to form. In the terminology of Tabligh, it means to urge the people to give time, to come out in the path of Allah for self reformation and propagating good for a number of days 3, 7, 40, 4 months, 1 year, etc. The number of days is also not compulsory, it is only recommended just as it is recommended that a person studying first aid, for example, serves one month as practicals. While he will not be an expert in medicine, he will know the basic things to do during an emergency. Similarly, a person going out for 3 days, 40 days, 4 months, etc. does not become an expert on Shariah, but he will learn the basic requirements of Shariah. The more time he gives, the more he will learn and perfect himself. The time frame is not a criteria according to Shariah. It is not regarded as compulsory in the Shariaah. The time is merely recommended like the time frame for any course in college and university. There is no prohibition in Shariaah to set time frames for learning and training.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best!!!

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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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