Islam covers every aspect of life; it is not a religionthat is only practiced once a week or during specific celebrations. Islam, through the words of God in the Quran, and the traditions ofProphet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, offers advice and guidance from dawn till dusk,from birth until death. Islam even teaches the believers the best way to greeteach other; it is a complete way of life.
What exactly does the word Islam mean? It is an Arabicword that comes from the root, sa - la – ma, that means submission to the willof God. It also shares the same root for the Arabic word meaning peace. However, it is a descriptive word that entails more than tranquillityand calmness, it also encompasses the concepts of safety, security andsubmission. In fact, Islam in the legal sense means submission to the One God who grants us safety,security, peace and harmony. The word Muslim (i.e. the one who submitsto the will of God) is also derived from thesame root, as is the Islamic greeting - Assalam.
In previous articles we have discussed thefact that all believers are linked together by various means. Most importantlyis the belief that there is no god worthy of worship but Allahand that Muhammad is His messenger. This iswhat distinguishes believers from non-believers. However,believers are also reminded of the bonds between them whenever they greet oneanother. The Islamic greeting –‘Assalam’, is in fact an invocation whereby one asks God to grantprotection and security to his fellow Muslim brother. This greeting encourages believers to be a worldwide community unencumbered by tribalor nationalistic loyalties and bound together by peace and unity.
Prophet Muhammad commanded us to togreet our fellow Muslims whom we know and those whom we do not know.[1] Thus believers try to establish peace andfriendly relations by greeting and meeting one another. WhenMuslims of any nationality, ethnicity or colour meet they will greet each otheras family. Believers also have rights over one another.
The Muslim has five rights over hisfellow-Muslim: he should greet him with ‘salaam’, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation,and ask God to have mercy on him when he sneezes.[2]
The Islamic greeting is Assalam Alaikum (May God grantyou protection and security). The response to this is wa Alaikum Assalam. These brief Arabic words let Muslims know that they are among friends,not strangers. A few words of greeting reveal so much.
“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return withwhat is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, God is Evera Careful Account Taker of all things.”(Quran 4:86)
Better Islamic greetings include, AssalamAlaikum wa Rahmatullah, which means, May God grant you protection,security and mercy, and Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah waBarakatuh, which means, May God grant you protection, security, mercyand may He bless you. Greeting in return with something betterwould be, for example, after hearing the words Assalam Alaikum you wouldrespond, wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullah.
Making that small effort to greet others in this manner atevery opportunity increases rewards. Each time a believer says the wordsAssalam Alaikum or responds to this greeting, his bank of good deeds is increased.
One day a man passed by the Prophet Muhammad while hewas sitting with some men, and said “Assalamu Alaikum”. The Prophet said “Hewill have 10 rewards”. Another man passed by and said “Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah”. The Prophet said he will have 20 rewards”. Another man passedand said “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmat ullaah wa barakaatuh”. TheProphet said, and he will have 30 rewards.[3]
In addition, throughoutthe Quran, God repeatedly points out that this is the Islamicgreeting. God assures us that struggling to please Him will result in peace andsecurity in Paradise, and when the believer enters paradise he will be greetedby the words Assalam Alaikum.
“And those who believed (inthe Oneness of God and His Messengers and whatever they brought) and didrighteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - todwell therein for ever (i.e. in Paradise),with the Permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein willbe, salam!” (Quran 14:23)
“Salam Alaikum for you persevered in patience! Excellentindeed is the final home!” (Quran 13:24)
“When those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses,lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you, say, “Assalam Alaikum”; yourLord has prescribed Mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil inignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying God), then surely, He isOft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran6:54)
“Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a piousstate (i.e. pure from all evil, andworshipping none but God Alone) saying (tothem), Assalam Alaikum enter you Paradise, because of that (thegood) which you used to do (in the world).” (Quran 16:32)
“But when you enter the houses, greet one another with agreeting from God, As-salamu Alaikum - blessed and good.” (Quran24:61)
“And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led toParadise in groups and when they reach it the its gates will be opened andthe keepers will say, Salam Alaikum, you have done well, so enter here to abidetherein.” (Quran 39:73)
Prophet Muhammad reiterated God’s message when he said,“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe untilyou love one another. Shall I tell you about something which, if you do it,will make you love one another? Greet each other with Salam”.[4]
Footnotes:
[1]Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim
[2]Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[3]Saheeh Al-Bukhari
[4] Saheeh Muslim
