Islam covers every aspect of life; it is not a religion that is only practiced once a week or during specific celebrations.  Islam, through the words of God in the Quran, and the traditions of Prophet 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 greet each other; it is a complete way of life.

What exactly does the word Islam mean?  It is an Arabic word that comes from the root, sa - la – ma, that means submission to the will of God. It also shares the same root for the Arabic word meaning peace.  However, it is a descriptive word that entails more than tranquillity and calmness, it also encompasses the concepts of safety, security and submission.  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 submits to the will of God) is also derived from the same root, as is the Islamic greeting - Assalam.

In previous articles we have discussed the fact that all believers are linked together by various means.  Most importantly is the belief that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.  This is what distinguishes believers from non-believers.  However, believers are also reminded of the bonds between them whenever they greet one another.  The Islamic greeting –‘Assalam’, is in fact an invocation whereby one asks God to grant protection and security to his fellow Muslim brother. This greeting encourages believers to be a worldwide community unencumbered by tribal or nationalistic loyalties and bound together by peace and unity.

Prophet Muhammad commanded us to to greet our fellow Muslims whom we know and those whom we do not know.[1]  Thus believers try to establish peace and friendly relations by greeting and meeting one another.  When Muslims of any nationality, ethnicity or colour meet they will greet each other as family.  Believers also have rights over one another.

The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-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 grant you 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 with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, God is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.” (Quran 4:86)

Better Islamic greetings include, Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, which means, May God grant you protection, security and mercy, and Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh, which means, May God grant you protection, security, mercy and may He bless you.  Greeting in return with something better would be, for example, after hearing the words Assalam Alaikum you would respond, wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullah.

Making that small effort to greet others in this manner at every opportunity increases rewards.  Each time a believer says the words Assalam Alaikum  or responds to this greeting, his bank of good deeds is increased.

One day a man passed by the Prophet Muhammad while he was sitting with some men, and said “Assalamu Alaikum”.  The Prophet said “He will have 10 rewards”. Another man passed by and said “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah”.  The Prophet said he will have 20 rewards”.  Another man passed and said “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmat ullaah wa barakaatuh”.  The Prophet said, and  he will have 30 rewards.[3]

In addition, throughout the Quran, God repeatedly points out that this is the Islamic greeting. God assures us that struggling to please Him will result in peace and security in Paradise, and when the believer enters paradise he will be greeted by the words Assalam Alaikum.

“And those who believed (in the Oneness of God and His Messengers and whatever they brought)and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - to dwell therein for ever (i.e. in Paradise), with the Permission of their Lord.  Their greeting therein will be, salam!” (Quran 14:23)

“Salam Alaikum for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed 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”; your Lord has prescribed Mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying God), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran6:54)

“Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but God Alone) saying (to them), Assalam Alaikum enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world).” (Quran 16:32)

“But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from God, As-salamu Alaikum - blessed and good.” (Quran 24:61)

“And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups and  when they reach it the  its gates will be opened and the keepers will say, Salam Alaikum, you have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” (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 until you 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]

Abu Hurayrah relates that God’s Messenger, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said: “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.  And whoever believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his neighbor.  And whoever believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.”[1]

The importance of this Hadith[2]

This hadith discusses some of the ways a Muslim’s faith should affect the way he relates to others.  Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani writes: “This hadith speaks about three matters, and in doing so it brings together everything that good manners entail with respect to both word and deed.”

Whoever believes in God and the Last Day…

This is a conditional sentence.  It is repeated three times in this hadith, each time with a different condition.  The first of these three conditions is to either speak a good word or remain silent, the second is to show hospitality to one’s neighbors, and the third is to show hospitality to one’s guests.  This hadith is showing us that these three qualities are among the many qualities of faith.  A person who fails to fulfill any of these conditions is a person whose faith is incomplete and in want of improvement. 

Speaking a good word or remaining silent

This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time it is a warning, cautioning us to be careful in what we say, lest we say something that is harmful or false.

It is part of a Muslim’s faith to speak the truth and to say things that bring about benefit to others. 

God says:

“O you who believe! Fear God and speak a word that is right.  He will set right for you your deeds and forgive you your sins.  And whoever obeys God and His Messenger has certainly attained a great achievement.” (Quran 33:70-71)

God informs us in the Quran some of what constitutes good in our speech and benefits other people. 

He says:

“No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people.  And whoever does that seeking God’s pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward.” (Quran 4:114)

When we have nothing beneficial to say, silence is golden.  Once, Mu`âdh b.  Jabal asked the Prophet to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire.  The Prophet mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, then said:

“Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?”

Muadh said: “Certainly.”

The Prophet took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.”

Muadh then asked: “O Prophet of God!  Are we held to task for the things that we say?”

The Prophet replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu`âdh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of their tongues?”[3]

We should avoid speaking ill of others.  We should rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for some wrong that has been perpetrated against us. 

God says:

“God does not like that evil should be mentioned in public except by one who has been done injustice.  And God is all-hearing, all-knowing.” (Quran 4:148)

Our tongues are like double-edges swords.  They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the Hereafter.  We will be held accountable for what we say. 

God tells us:

“He does not utter a statement except that there is an observer by him ready to record it.” (Quran 50:18)

The Prophet said: “Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to God that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it God raises him by many degrees.  And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to God that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.”[4]

We must be vigilant not to speak falsehood.  We must think about what we are saying and the possible consequences of our words before we go ahead and speak. 

The Prophet said: “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west.”[5]

Al-Nawawi comments on the meaning of this hadith, saying: “This hadith encourages us to guard our tongues.  A person who wants to speak should think upon what he is about to say before he utters it.  If it then shows itself to have some benefit to it, he may speak it; otherwise he should refrain from doing so.”

Showing hospitality to the neighbor and the guest

From the perfection of a person’s faith is his showing kindness to those with whom he has dealings, especially his neighbors and his guests.

God says:

“Worship God and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, the near neighbor, the distant neighbor, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess.  Indeed, God does not like those who are conceited and boastful.” (Quran 4:36)

Islam emphasizes the right of the neighbor.  The Prophet said: “Gabriel continued to impress upon me the rights of the neighbor until I thought that he would soon confer upon him the right of inheritance.”[6]

There are many forms that this hospitality can take.  It can take the form of help in times of need.  The Prophet said: “He is not a believer who lets himself be satiated while his neighbor goes hungry.”[7]

It can mean making allowances for the neighbor’s needs, even by waiving some of one’s own rights.  The Prophet said: “None of you should prevent his neighbor from placing his rafter in his wall.”[8]

It can take the form of gift giving.  The Prophet said: “O Muslim women!  None of you should consider insignificant a gift that you give to your neighbor, even if it is but the trotters of a sheep.”[9]

Islam teaches us to be generous and hospitable to those who come to us as guests.  Indeed, those who come to our homes have a right over us. 

The Prophet said: “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest according to his right.”

He was asked: “What is his right, O Messenger of God?”

The Prophet answered: “It is (to offer the best) for a day and a night, and hospitality extends for three days.  What is beyond that is charity.”