How much do we know of the importance of salam to our fellow Muslims? Do we practice it diligently and do we extend our salams to strangers and passer-bys? Let us look into the importance of the Salam in Islam.
The meaning of salam (peace) is safety and protection from evil and from faults. The name al-Salaam is a Name of Allaah, may He be exalted, so the meaning of the greeting of salaam which is required among Muslims is, “May the blessing of His Name descend upon you’.
The Salam is an element of good Islamic manners. In the proper conduct of greetings one may find keys to good social behavior and the proprieties of friendship and exchanges in Islamic framings. Allah says in the Qur’an (BismillaharRahmanirRahim),
“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with better than it or return it. Allah takes count of all things”. (4:86)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made giving salaam a part of faith. Abu Huraira narrated that The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed: You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as-salamu alaikum
Bukhari reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was aked: “What is the best thing in Islam?” He said, “Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know.”
Another custom of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) is shaking hands while offering salaams. The Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) says, “When two Muslims shake hands, their sins fall to the ground, as leaves of the tree fall to the ground.”
Brothers and sisters do not pass the opportunity to rid ourselves of sins on a daily basis. It certainly does not require much that we extend our hands and greet our fellow Muslims. Following the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet is the deen and the straight way of life.
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