Sunnats and Aadaab of Greeting (Salaam) – Part 4

1. If one is greeted with salaam,  it is waajib for one to reply to the salaam.

2. When replying to the salaam, it is permissible for one to reply equally to the greeting received. However, if one increases the words in the greeting, it will be better and more rewarding  E.g. If one was greeted with the words “Assalaamu Alaikum”, then one may reply by saying “Wa alaikumus Salaam”. However, it is better and more rewarding for one to say “Wa Alaikumus Salaam Wa Rahmatullah” or  “Wa Alaikumus Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakaatuhu.”

وَإِذا حُيّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيّوا بِأَحسَنَ مِنها أَو رُدّوها

And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet better than it or return it (in a like manner).

عن علي – يعني ابن أبي طالب – قال : دخلت المسجد فإذا أنا بالنبي صلى الله عليه و سلم في عصبة من أصحابه فقلت : السلام عليكم . فقال : وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله عشرون لي وعشر لك . قال : فدخلت الثانية فقلت : السلام عليكم ورحمة الله . فقال: وعليك السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته ثلاثون لي وعشرون لك. فدخلت الثالثة فقلت : السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته . فقال : وعليك السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته ثلاثون لي وثلاثون لك . أنا وأنت يا علي في السلام سواء إنه يا علي ما من رجل مر على مجلس فسلم عليهم إلا كتب الله له عشر حسنات ومحا عنه عشر سيئات ورفع له عشر درجات. (مجمع الزوائد رقم 12735)

Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that on one occasion I entered the Musjid and appeared before Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) while he was seated among a group of Sahaabah. I said: “Assalaamu Alaikum”. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied by saying “Wa Alaikumus Salaam Wa Rahmatullah”, and thereafter Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “You have received ten rewards and I have received twenty rewards (on account of me increasing the words of salaam).” Later on, I entered the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for a second time. I said: “Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied by saying: “Wa Alaika Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakaatuhu”, and thereafter Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “You have received twenty rewards and I have received thirty rewards (on account of me increasing the words of salaam).” On the third occasion when I entered the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), I said: “Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabaraakatuhu.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied by saying: “Wa Alaika Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakaatuhu”, and thereafter Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “You have received thirty rewards and I have received thirty rewards. O Ali, you and I are equal in the rewards of salaam. O Ali, whichever person passes by a gathering, then he makes salaam upon the people present in the gathering, he will receive ten blessings from Allah Ta’ala, ten sins will be wiped out and he will be elevated ten stages in the Hereafter (on account of greeting the people in the gathering).”