Sunnats and Aadaab of Greeting (Salaam) – Part 6

1. When replying to the salaam of someone, one should reply to the salaam verbally and not by a mere sign of the hand or a nod of the head.

وعن عمرو بن شعيب عن أبيه عن جده رضي الله عنهم أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ليس منا من تشبه بغيرنا لا تشبهوا باليهود ولا بالنصارى فإن تسليم اليهود الإشارة بالأصابع وتسليم النصارى الإشارة بالأكف . (ترمذي رقم 2695)

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The one who emulates the ways (and culture) of others is not from amongst us. Do not emulate the Jews nor the Christians (in their ways and culture). When the Jews greet each other, they greet each other by gesturing with their fingers, and when the Christians greet each other, they greet each other by gesturing with their hands.” (Therefore we should refrain from emulating them in their manner of greeting).