Sunnats and Aadaab of Greeting (Salaam) – Part 3

1. When making salaam, one should make salaam by saying “Assalaamu Alaikum.”  One may add to the words of the salaam by saying “Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah ” or “Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakaatuhu”. The more words one uses in the salaam causes the reward to increase.

عن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنه قال جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال السلام عليكم. فرد عليه السلام ثم جلس فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عشر. ثم جاء آخر فقال السلام عليكم ورحمة الله فرد عليه فجلس فقال عشرون. ثم جاء آخر فقال السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته فرد عليه فجلس فقال ثلاثون. (ابو داود رقم 5197)

Hadhrat Imraan ibn Husain (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that once a person came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and greeted him saying: "Assalaamu alaikum." Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied to the salaam, and the person sat down in the gathering. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said: "He has received ten rewards." Thereafter another person came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and greeted him saying: "Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah." Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied to the salaam, and the person sat down in the gathering. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said: "He has received twenty rewards." Thereafter another person came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and greeted him saying: "Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh." Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied to the salaam, and the person sat down in the gathering. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said: "He has received thirty rewards."