The Excellence of Greeting

In the middle of praised attitudes which were ordered by Islam is greeting. Greeting is an expression to describe that between person who says the greeting and person who answered the greeting, there is no quarrel. Only love, brotherhood and friendship. Greeting looks simple, but it has great lesson and excellence. Some of those are caused of greeting is Allah Swt. And prophet’s ordered/command.

Our prophet (Mohammed) ordered us to do 7 things/due, such as: Visit a patient (someone who gets illness), Accompany mortal remains, Pray somebody who was sneezing when he/she praised Allah Swt., Help somebody who needs our help, Help somebody who was hurt by others, Say the greeting and Fulfill a promise. (Muttafaq ‘alaih). Greeting could arise/spring up love. “You will not enter the paradise until you believe God. And you didn’t believe God yet until you love each other. Do you want me show an attitude that could make you love each other, it is spread greeting to everyone.” (HR. al-Bukhari & Muslim).

Greeting is also the best due in Islam. From Abdullah bin Amr bin Ash. A man asked our prophet (Mohammed) “What is the best due in Islam? He answered, “ Feeding and saying the greeting to person who you know and you didn’t introduce yet. (HR. al-Bukhari & Muslim)

Blessing and goodness from Allah Swt. Will be given to someone who says the greeting. Just like Allah’s words in Quran An-Nuur : 61.

Saying the greeting will be a due that entered to a paradise somebody who said it. “To all of human, spread a greeting, feeding others, visit your brothers and pray in the late night when somebody else were sleeping, so that you will enter to a paradise safely. (HR. at-Tirmidzi)

Greeting could be said when met somebody, didn’t care you recognize them or not as long as they are Moslem. “When you met somebody, says the greeting. If you were hindered by tree, wall or rock, so say the greeting after facing them.” (HR. Muslim).

Greeting also said when entered somebody else home, or your own home. Look at Quran An-Nuur : 21.

When entered or left a meeting (majelis). “When someone entered a meeting, better for him or her saying the greeting.” (HR. Daud). If someone entrusted a greeting, the person who received it, has to answer: “Wa’alaihissalam warahmatullah wabarakatuh.”

Note: From LPUQ Magazine, April 2007 with real tittle “Keutamaan Salam”