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brightness_1 Greeting others with Salām (The greeting of peace).

There are numerous narrations that indicate this Sunnah.

Abu Hurayrah (ABPWH) narrated that Allāh’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The duties of a Muslim towards other Muslims are six.” The Prophet (PBUH) was asked, “Allāh’s Messenger, what are these?” He answered, “When you meet him greet him, when he invites you accept his invitation, when he seeks your advice give him advice, when he sneezes and says, ‘All praise is due to Allāh,’ reply to him, ‘Yarhamuk Allāh’ (i.e. may Allāh’s mercy be upon you), when he falls sick visit him, and when he dies follow his funeral.” (Muslim no. 2162)

Replying to the greeting of Salām is obligatory.

Allāh, the Almighty, says, “And when you are greeted with a greeting, answer with a better greeting, or at least return it equally. Verily, Allāh keeps account indeed of all things.” (Soorat Un-Nisā’)

An order from Allāh or the Prophet (PBUH) originally means it is for obligation, unless another authentic proof proves otherwise.

Agreement of all scholars on the obligation of replying to a Muslim’s greeting has been reported by several scholars, some of which are Ibn Hazm, Ibn ‘Abdil Barr, Shaykh Taqiy Ud-Deen, and others, may Allāh have mercy on them.

The best formula of the greeting of Salām and response to it is, “May peace, the mercy of Allāh, and the blessings of Allāh be upon you.”

Ibn Ul-Qayyim, may Allāh have mercy on him, said, “The Prophet’s Sunnah when greeting someone is to complete this formula to the very end where it says, ‘... wa Barakātuh.’ (i.e. and the blessings of Allāh be upon you).” (Zād Al-Ma‘ād 2/417)

Spreading Salām among people is Sunnah. In fact it is an assured Sunnah that is greatly rewarded, as mentioned in the Hadeeth narrated by Abi Hurayrah (ABPWH) , that Allāh’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “By Him in whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you about something you can do to love one another? Spread Salām among you.” (Muslim no. 54)

brightness_1 Greeting those at home upon entering home.

 

This falls under the general category of greeting others with Salām. It is Sunnah upon entering one’s home to begin by cleaning his teeth with Siwāk (tooth-stick), and then to greet those at home with Salām.

This is the fourth situation in which the use of Siwāk is recommended. ‘Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her, narrated, “The first thing that the Prophet (PBUH) used to do upon entering home is using the Siwāk.” (Muslim no. 253)

Thus, he used to use the Siwāk first, and then greet his family members.

Some scholars even said that it is Sunnah to say the greeting of Salām upon entering any house, not just one’s home, and that this should be done even if there was no one inside the house, as Allāh the Almighty says,

{فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُم بُيُوتاً فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ تَحِيَّةً مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ مُبَارَكَةً طَيِّبَةً كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُون}

“So when you enter houses, greet yourselves with Salām, a greeting from Allāh that is blessed and pure. This is how Allāh makes his revelations clear to you so perhaps you may understand.” (Soorat Un-Noor, Verse 61)

Ibn Hajar, may Allāh have mercy on him, said, “This would be considered to fall under the general order to spread Salām. In a situation when one enters a place where no one exists, he should greet himself according to the instructions of Qur’ānic verse mentioned above.” (Fatth Ul-Bāri, Hadeeth 6235)

From the explanation above, we can conclude that there are three Sunan upon entering home:

1) To mention Allāh’s name, especially at night. This is proven by the Hadeeth in which Jābir Ubn ‘Abdillāh, may Allāh be pleased with them, narrated that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying: “When a man enters his home and mentions the Name of Allāh upon entering and upon eating, Satan says (i.e. addressing his followers), ‘You will find nowhere to spend the night and you will find no dinner,’ but if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allāh, Satan says (to his followers), ‘You have found a place to spend the night, as well as dinner.’.” (Muslim no. 2018)

2) To use Siwāk, according to the Hadeeth of ‘Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her, that we already mentioned.

3) To greet the members of the family who are at home upon entering home.