"And when you are greeted with a greeting, great in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally" (Surah An-Nisa',Ayah 86)

All praise is due to Allaah, we praise Him, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness, and we repent to Him. We seek refuge in Allaahu Ta’ala from the wickedness of our ownselves and our evil actions. Whoever Allaah guides, there is none that can lead him astray, and whomever Allaah leads astray, even if all of mankind and all of the Jinn got together to try to put him back on the straight path, they could never do it, for there is none who can guide him aright. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allaah, He is Alone and has No partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allaah, and may the Peace and Blessings be upon His messenger, the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, his family, and his Companions, one and all. To proceed.....

Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala has created human beings as social creatures. We live in villages, towns, and cities, around other people. Rarely do you find someone who has no desire to interact with other human beings and live off by themselves. Because we've been created with this need for interaction amongst eachother, greetings hold an important status in these societies. Here in Germany, it's common "adab" to greet everyone when entering and leaving a shop or restaurant. But greetings play no greater part in any society or community than they do in Islaam. Allaah says, the translation meaning,:

"O You who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission (to enter) and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you remember." (Surah an-Nur :27)

And:

"...But when you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah, blessed and good..." (Surah an-Nur:61)

Many Muslims today take greeting each other for granted, as something small, or trivial. But Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, The Creator and Sustainer of all that is in the Heavens and the Earth, doesn't treat greetings as something trivial! In fact He, Tabaraka wa Ta'ala, attaches much importance to them. He has commanded in His Book:

"When those who Believe in Our ayaatinaa (verses, signs, revelation, etc.) come to you, say: "Salaamun 'Alaykum..." (Surah al-An'am:54)
 

And His Messenger, , said: "The rights of a Muslim upon another are 5: Returning greetings, visiting the sick, following the funeral procession, responding to invitations, and offering "tashmeet" (saying "Al-hamdu-li-llaah") for one who sneezes." (al-Bukhari)

The Prophet of Allaah also said: "The nearest of people to Allaah are those who greet first." (Ahmad, Abu Dawud)
 

Allaahu Ta'ala says in al-Qur'aan: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally." (Surah an-Nisa:86)

Due to this ayah and the preceeding ahadith, initiating Salaam is considered SUNNAH, but returning Salaam after someone offers it is WAJIB!! So much for greetings being small or trivial! The great Mufassir, Ibn Katheer explained this ayah by saying: "If the person greeted you with the Salaam you should reply in a better form, or reply similarly. However, the extended form is preferrable, but the shorter is Wajib. Which means that greeting is preferrable but the greeting in return is Wajib, and it should be in the form of the Salaam and not in any other form."

Greeting eachother with "As-Salaamu 'Alaykum" has many virtues and benefits that we may not realize exist. For example:

Salaam is one of the defining criteria of true Eemaan, and is one the deeds which Allaah's Messenger, , has stated is among the best. In one hadith, collected by al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet was asked about which aspect of Islaam was the best. He , replied: "Feeding the hungry and saying Salaam to those you know and those you don't know."

Salaam is a cause of love for one another and unifies the hearts of the believers, and if we acheive this love and unity, we can enter al-Jannah! The Prophet, , said, the translation of which means: "You will not enter al-Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another, shall I tell you about something which if you did (it), you will love one another?" The Sahabah replied in the affirmative, and Allaah's Messenger then said: "Spread 'Salaam" among you." (Muslim)

Prophet Muhammad, , has stressed in numerous ahadith that love for eachother causes those people to taste the sweetness of Eemaan and the bliss of al-Aakhirah!

Salaam is a du'aa for your brother or sister. It is not from the Sunnah to pray for the Kuffar, thus we should'nt give Salaam to them, because it is du'aa *. Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala said in His Kitab:

"It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allaah's forgiveness for the Mushrikun even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the fire." (Surah at-Tauba:11)

The Messenger said: "Do not greet al-Yahud (the Jews) and an-Nasara (the Christians) with Salaam, and if you meet one of them in a (tight) path, then compel him to the narrower part of it." (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithee, Muslim).

Salaam has different forms, and grades for these forms. Imran ibn Hussain, narrated in a hadith collected by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmithee: "A man came to the Prophet, and said,"As-Salaamu alaykum".' The Prophet returned his greeting and when the man sat down, the Prophet said: 'Ten.' Another man came and said 'As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullaah' to which the Prophet also responded and when the man sat down, he said: 'Twenty.' Another man came and said, 'As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh.' The Prophet returned his greeting, and after the man sat down, he said: 'Thirty.'"

The 'Ulamaa have interpreted this hadith to mean that if one greets with the minimum form of Salaam, 'As-Salaamu alaykum', he or she is rewarded ten good deeds for saying it, as the Prophet said after the first man, 'Ten.' The second grade would be to say 'As-Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaah', and earn a reward of twenty good deeds. Then the best form, which earns a reward of thirty good deeds, would be, 'As-Salaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh'. Responses to the greetings are similar in grades and rewards (Wa alaykum us-Salaam; wa alaykum us-Salaam wa Rahmatullaah; wa alaykum us-Salaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh.)

 

Imaam al-Bukhari collected in his Sahih, the following hadith, in which the Prophet, said: "Allaah created Adam in His image (meaning life, knowledge, hearing, seeing, etc., not like the Kuffar claim!) 60 cubits (approx. 30 meters) in height. When He created him, He said (to him), 'Go and greet that group of Angels sitting there, and listen to what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.' Adam (went and) said, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum.' They replied, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaah.' So they increased ‘wa Rahmatullaah.'"

There are several etiquettes we must follow when it comes to Salaam.
 

Allaah's Messenger, , said: "The person who is riding should offer Salaam to the one who is walking; and the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting; and the smaller group should greet the larger one." (al-Bukhari, Muslim)
 

As Allaah Azza wa Jal' mentioned in Surah an-Nur, ayat 61, the one who enters a house should initiate the Salaam to those already inside.

The young should initiate the greetings to those who are older. If the child is very young, then it is Sunnah to offer them Salaam to teach them it's importance, etiquettes, and to build their self-esteem. Anas bin Malik, , once passed by a group of boys and greeted them and said, The Prophet, used to do so." (al-Bukhari, Muslim)

When meeting a group of Muslims, one must greet the whole group, not just one or two of them and not the others! This is improper. Also, one of the minor signs of the Last Day is that Muslims will greet those of distinction with a different greeting than everyone else is greeted with! The Messenger of Allaah, said, the translation meaning: "Before the Hour comes, there will be a special greeting for the people of distinction..." (Silsilatul Ahadith as-Sahihah)

The Prophet of Allaahu Ta’ala, said in a hadeeth collected by Abu Dawood: "When one of you meets his brother, he should say Salaam to him. If a tree, a wall, or a rock comes in between them, and then they meet again, he should again say Salaam to him."

We see in Masajid and gatherings all over that people enter a gathering of people who are sitting and they all stand up to greet them. About this, Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said: "It was not the habit of the Salaf at the time of the Prophet, and the Khulafa ar-Rashidun to stand up every time they saw the Prophet .."

Anas bin Maalik, said, "Although there was no person more beloved to them, they -the Sahabah, would not stand up for the Prophet , because he used to dislike it."

 

Don't greet someone while you know they (or while you) are:

answering the call of nature

having sexual relations

when someone is sleeping (Remember, returning the Salaam is WAJIB!! How can a sleeping person return your Salaam? "The Rights of a Muslim upon another are 5: Returning greetings...")

while in the bathroom

Offering Salaam to someone who is reciting the Qur'aan, praying, or making du'aa is permissible but discouraged. Also we should not give Salaam while the Khateeb is delivering the Khutbah, as the reason for the Khutbahtul-Jumu’ah is for the people to pay attention and be admonished.

The Prophet, said: "Do not greet the Jews and Christians with Salaam." (al-Bukhari) If a Jew or Christian offers you Salaam first, we should reply with "wa alaykum" ("And upon you"). If there is a mixed group of Muslims and non-Muslims, one should greet the group with the intention that it is only for those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day. Greeting non-Muslims with "Hello", "Good Morning", etc. is permissible, but not to use as a replacement for Salaam when meeting a Muslim. Saying "What's up, G-Money?!" or "Was ist Los, Dawg" to a Muslim instead of offering Salaam is UN-ISLAAMIC!! Nothing replaces Salaam between two Muslims when they meet.

 

 Salaam is the greating of the Malaika (Angels), as we can see from the previously mentioned hadith about Adam . Allaah, Tabaraka wa Ta'ala, has also informed us in Surah az-Zumar :

"And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and it's gates will be opened and it's keepers will say: Salaamun 'Alaykum! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein." (Surah az-Zumar: 73)

And Imaam al-Bukhari collected in his Sahih, on the authority of Abu Hurairah who said: "Jibreel came to the Prophet , and said: "O Messenger of Allaah, this is Khadijah who is bringing with her a vessel containing condiments of food and drink. When she comes to you, greet her from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a house in the Garden made from a hollow pearl in which there will never be any shouting or tiredness.'" In the transmission of an-Nasa'i, after Jibreel's (Alayhis Salaatul was-Salaam) words, "Greet her from her Lord and from me...", Khadijah responded: "Allaah is Salaam, and Salaam be upon Jibreel, and on you, O Messenger of Allaah, be as-Salaam and Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatu."

Also, for the people of Eemaan and at-Taqwa, Allaah tells us in the 30th ayaah of Surah an-Nahl :

"Those whose lives the Angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from evil; worshipping Allaah Alone) saying (to them): Salaamun 'Alaykum, enter you Paradise, because of (the good) which you used to do."

Wallaahu ‘Alim (And Allaah knows best.) 

Note: When the Prophet sent letters to some of the rulers of neighboring states, he would include the statement: "Wa Salaam 'ala man ittaba 'il-hudaa" (Peace be upon he who follows Guidance). (Ibn Hishaam, "Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum", etc.)
 

I pray that Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala will accept this small effort as being solely for His Sake and not for the seeking of fame or praise, as our beloved Prophet has told us: "Actions are by the Intention,..." I pray that Allaahu Ta’ala will forgive me for any and all mistakes I may have made in putting this together, for they are from me and ash-Shaytaan. And I pray that those who take the time to read it may benefit from it, and that they will excuse my mistakes as well, as I am not a scholar, not by the stretch of anyone's imagination, nor am I even a student of knowledge!! So please pray to Allaah for His forgiveness for me. May Allaah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala fill our hearts full of love for one another, guide us, and forgive us all. Ameen.

"Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute to Him! And peace be upon the Messengers! And all praise is due to Allaah, Lord of 'Aalameen."

As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatu!!