On The Subject Of Salam

As-Salam is one of the most beautiful names of Allah. It means peace, tranquility, and welfare. Since it is also one of the names of Heaven, it symbolizes contentment. This is the reason why when Muslims meet, they should greet each other; to wish all kinds of prosperity on each other. Salam is both an act of worship and a right of Muslims over each other.

There are many rules and morals that Islamic scholars set forth in the light of the Qur'an and hadiths regarding salam. We can list them as follows.

Decrees regarding salam:

• Saying salam is sunnah while responding to a salam is fard al-kifayah, meaning the obligation is fulfilled for everyone involved even if a single person performs the duty. However, the one who gives salam is at a higher level than the one who receives it. 

• It is sufficient for only one person in the community to respond to the salam.

• Even if the person who says salam renounces their right to have a response, the obligation is not lifted from those who are supposed to respond because the duty of responding to salam is Allah's due.

• Making sure that salam is heard is essential. If it is not heard, the salam should be repeated three times loudly.

• It is sunnah to respond both audibly and with a hand gesture if you respond to the salam of a deaf person. The same rule applies if the person is at a distance where they cannot hear you or if they are in a car.

• When leaving a Muslim community, it is sunnah to leave with a salam.

• It is good manners for a person in a vehicle to say salam to someone walking, for a person walking to a person sitting, for a small group to a larger group, and for a young person to an elder.

• It is also sunnah to greet children with salam.

• As it is a sunnah, saying salam to family members helps a house prosper.

• It is sunnah not to say salam to people when they are openly sinning. It is even jaiz (permissible) not to speak to them at all. However, it is possible to say salam and talk to them with the purpose of giving advice.

• It is makruh (disliked)for men to say salam to young, eligible women and for women to say salam to young, eligible men. If one of them says salam, the other should receive it silently.

• You should not say salam to a person who is reading the Qur'an or hadiths, engaging in theological discussions, performing wudu, reciting the adhan or the iqama. Even if you say salam to them, they are not obligated to respond.

• It is best not to answer a person who starts speaking without saying salam until they say salam.

• It is a sunnah to say salam even after a momentary separation.

• The person performing wudu should respond to the salam after the wudu is finished.

The Etiquette of Salam:

• Salam is said with the words: “as-salamu alaykum.” In case of difficulty in pronunciation, salam can be given or responded to in the language you speak, for example, “peace be upon you.” However, it is more virtuous to say the salam in Arabic.

• The salam should be responded to by saying “wa-alaikum salam” or “alaikum salam.” It is not jaiz to respond with “hello.”

• If the person responds with only “wa-alaikum,” then the fard is not fulfilled.

• It is also possible to say salam to a single person as “as-salamu alayka.” However, it is also a sunnah to say “as-salamu alaykum” by considering the presence of angels next to the person.

• As mentioned in a hadith of our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), ten thawabs for each of the words will be given to the person who says salam or responds to salam with “wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,” in addition to “as-salamu alaykum.”

• It is not jaiz to say salam to non-Muslims. However, if they say salam, we can respond by saying “wa alaikum.”

• When greeting a Muslim community that includes non-Muslims among them, it should be intended to say salam only to the Muslims by saying “as-salamu alaykum.”

• It is essential to deliver a salam and respond to a person who sends salam. The person who receives a salam to deliver to another should say, “alayka wa alayhis salam” if the person sending the salam is a man, and “alayka wa alayhas salam” if it’s a woman.

• It is also sunnah to say an expression of salam like “as-salamu alaikum ya ahla’d-diyar” while in a cemetery or passing by it. 

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