The Virtues of Salām: Embracing Peace in Islam

Table of Contents

Discover the Spiritual and Social Benefits of the Greeting of Salām

VIRTUES OF THE GREETING OF SALĀM

ALLĀH says: "When you enter houses, give greetings of Peace upon each other (i.e. say: As-Salāmu ‘Alaikum - peace be on you) - a greeting from ALLĀH, blessed and good." {An-Nur || Verse 61}

Abu Huraira (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “ALLĀH created Ādam in HIS image, sixty cubits tall. When HE created him, ALLĀH said: Go and greet with Salām  these groups of assembled angels and listen to how they greet you, for this will be the greeting among your progeny. Adam said: 'Assalāmu Alaykum' (Peace be upon you). The angels said: 'Assalāmu Alayka Warahmatullāhi' (Peace be upon you and the mercy of ALLĀH). Thus, they added the mercy of ALLĀH. Everyone who enters Paradise will be in the image of Ādam, for the creation has continued to diminish in stature until now.” {Al-Bukhārī #5873, Muslim #2841}

Anas ibn Mālik said: The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said to me, "O my son, when you enter upon your family and say salām, it will be a blessing for you and the members of your household." {Al-Tirmidhi #2698}

Mujahid (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “And when you enter the Masjid, say: Peace be upon the Messenger of ALLĀH; When you enter upon your families, greet them with Salam; And when you enter a house in which there is nobody, say: As-Salamu ‘Alayna wa ‘Ala Ibadillāhis-Salihin (peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of ALLĀH). This is what one is commanded to do, and it has been narrated to us that the angels will return his greeting.” {Tafsi‌r Ibn Kathīr}

Ibn al-Qayyim (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) “ALLĀH, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islām should be ‘As-salāmu Alaykum’, which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas or lies, such as saying, ‘May you live for a thousand years’, or things that are not accurate, such as ‘An’im sabaahan (Good morning)’, or actions that are not right, such as prostrating in greeting. Thus the greeting of salām is better than all of these, because it has the meaning of safety which is life, without which nothing else can be achieved. So this takes precedence over all other aims or objectives. A person has two main aims in life: to keep himself safe from evil, and to get something good. Keeping safe from evil takes precedence over getting something good.” {Badā’i al-Fawā’id || Page 144}