42. Greetings

42. Greetings

chapter 438. Chapter

965. It is related that Abu Musa was with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in one of the gardens of Madina. He said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had a twig in his hand with which he was striking the water and mud. A man came and asked for the garden to be opened, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Open it for him and give him the good news of the Garden.’ I went and it was Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. I opened the gate for him and gave him the good news of the Garden. Then another man asked to be let in and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Open the door and give him the good news of the Garden.’ It was ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and I let him in and gave him the good news of the Garden. Then yet another man asked to be let in. The Prophet had been reclining, but he then sat up and said, ‘Open it for him and give him the good news of the Garden along with an affliction which will befall him ? or which will happen.’ I went and it was ‘Uthman, I opened the door and told him what the Prophet had said. He said, ‘Allah is the One who is asked for help. ‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 439. Shaking hands with children

966. Salama ibn Wardan said, “I saw Anas ibn Malik shake hands with some people and he asked me, ‘And who are you?’ I said, ‘The mawla of the Banu Layth.’ He stroked my head three times and said, ‘May Allah bless you.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The narration shows the kindheartedness of the companion , and encourages shaking and stroking the head of the young and supplicating for them.

chapter 440. Shaking Hands

967. Anas ibn Malik said, “When the people of Yemen came, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘The people of Yemen have arrived and they have gentler hearts than you. They are the first to offer the handshake.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth cites the connection between tenderheartedness and handshake, and encourages handshake. In another authentic narration collected by Imam Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmidhee and others, the Prophetﷺ said, “No two Muslims meet and shake hands except that they are both forgiven before they depart.”

968. Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib said, “Part of the full greeting is to shake your brother’s hand.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 441. A woman stroking a child’s head

969. Ibrahim ibn Marzuq ath-Thaqafi related that his father (who had belonged to Allah ibn az-Zubayr) told him, “‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr sent me to his mother, Asma’ bint Abi Bakr and he told her how al-Hajjaj was treating them. She made supplication for me and stroked my head. I was a young boy at that time.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

970. Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “I purchased a camel and rode it hard for a month until I reached Syria. ‘Abdullah ibn Unays was there, and I sent word to him, saying, ‘Jabir is at the door.’ The messenger returned and said, ‘Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. So ‘Abdullah came out and embraced me. I said, ‘A hadith reached me which I had not heard before and I feared that one of us might die.'” He went on, “I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘Allah will gather His slaves ? or people ? naked, uncircumcised, without anything.’ We asked, ‘What is meant by “without anything”?’ The Prophet said, ‘They will have nothing with them.’ (The Prophet went on,) ‘They will be called by a voice that is heard from afar (and I think that he said, ‘as if it was from close at hand’), saying, “I am the King. None of the people of the Garden will enter the Garden while any of the people of the Fire are seeking him for some injustice he did to him. None of the people of the Fire will enter the Fire while any of the people of the Garden are seeking him for an injustice he did to him.”‘ I asked, ‘How is this? We come to Allah naked and without any worldly goods?’ He said, ‘This applies to good actions and evil actions.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The point of reference in this hadeeth vis-a-vis the chapter heading is that Abdullah came out and then embraced Jabir bin Abdullah (radiya Allahu anhum). Anas bin Malik reported that, “When the companions of the Prophetﷺ meet, they would shake each other. And when they return from journeys, they embraced each other.” See Silsilat alAhaadeeth is-Saheehah (1/301).

chapter 443. A man kissing his daughter

971. ‘A’isha, the Umm al-Mu’minin, said, “I did not see anyone who more resembled the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in manner of speaking that Fatima. When she came to him, he stood up for her, made her welcome, kissed her and had her sit in his place. When the Prophet came to her, she stood up for him, took his hand, made him welcome, kissed him, and made him sit in her place. She came to him during his final illness and he greeted her and kissed her.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 444. Kissing the hand

972. Ibn ‘Umar said, “We were on a raid and the people fled. We said, ‘How can we meet the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when we have run away? It has been revealed, “unless he is withdrawing to rejoin the fight” (8:16).” We said, ‘We will not go to Madina and then no one will see us.’ Then we said, ‘Perhaps we should go.’ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came from the Fajr prayer and we said, ‘We fled.’ He said, ‘You are those rejoining the fight.”‘ We kissed his hand. He said, ‘I am your group.*'” [* The ayat continues, “or withdrawing to support another group”]
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

973. ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Razin said, “We passed by az-Zubda and were told, ‘There is Salama ibn al- Akwa’. I went to him and he greeted us. Then he brought out his hands and stated, ‘With these two hands I offered allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ He held out his palm which was as huge as a camel’s foot, and we got up and kissed it.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Explaining similar narrations, Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه ( explained, “As for kissing the hand, there are many narrations which all point to its establishment from the Prophetﷺ and the pious predecessors. Thus, it is our opinion that it is permissible to kiss the hand of a scholar if the following conditions are fulfilled: 1. It should not be made a custom such that the scholar becomes used to stretching out his hands to his students and the students also get used to seeking blessings through that. This is because although the Prophet’s hand was kissed, it was rare, and whatever is like that should not be taken as continous practice as is known from the Fundamentals of Islamic Jurisprudence. 2. That it should not lead to the scholar being arrogant towards others, feeling self-important, as is the case with some Shaykhs today. 3. That it should not lead to suspending a well-known Sunnah such as the Sunnah of handshake which is approved from his actions and statements, and which brings about the falling-off of the sins of the two persons shaking hands as is reported in many hadeeths. So, it is not allowed to cancel it because of an act which is, to say the most, only permissible.” See Sharh Saheeh Adab al-Mufrad (3/117).

974. Anas was asked, “Did you touch the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with your hand?” He replied, “Yes,” so they kissed it.
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 445. Kissing the Foot

975. Al-Wazi’ ibn ‘Amir said, “We came and were told, ‘That is the Messenger of Allah.’ We took his hands and feet and kissed them.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

976. Suhayb said, “I saw ‘Ali kiss the hands and feet of al-‘Abbas.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 446. A man rising out of respect for another man

977. Abu Mijaz said, “Mu’awiya came while ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir and ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr were seated. Ibn ‘Amir got up while Ibn az-Zubayr remained seated, and he was weightier of the two. Mu’awiya said, ‘The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whoever likes to have the slaves of Allah stand up out of respect for him should take his place in the Fire.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth shows, as Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (said, that “one: prohibition of the one coming to meet the people desiring their standing up for him. This is clear-cut, not requiring explanation. The other: Disaproval for those sitting to stand up for the one coming even if the person dislikes the standing; and that is from the aspects of cooperating upon goodness and closing the door of evil. This point is very precise and is pointed to us by the reporter of the hadeeth – Mu’awiyyah by his disapproving of Abdullah bin ‘Aamir’s standing up for him. He then advanced the hadeeth as evidence…”

chapter 447. Giving the greeting first

978. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah created Adam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his height was 60 spans. He said, ‘Go and greet those (a group of angels who were sitting down) and listen to how they answer you. It is your greeting and the greeting of your descendants.’ He said, ‘Peace be upon you,’ and they replied, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.’ They added, ‘and the mercy of Allah’. All who enter the Garden will have his form, but creation has continued to decline until now.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 448. Giving the greeting to people

979. Al-Bara’ reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Make the greeting common practice among you and you will be safe.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)

980. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “You will not enter the Garden until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something the doing of which will give you love of one another?” “Yes, Messenger of Allah,” they replied. The Prophet said, “Make the greeting common practice among you.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

981. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Worship the All-Merciful and feed people. Make the greeting common practice among you and you will enter the Garden.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The narrations under this chapter highlight the virtues of extending the greetings of Salam: safety, loving one another, increases Eemaan and leads to the Garden. May Allah enter us into His Garden. See hadeeth no. 987.

chapter 449. The person who greets first

982. Bashir ibn Yasar said, “No one preceded ? or got ahead of ? Ibn ‘Umar when giving the greeting.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: In an authentic hadeeth collected by Imam at-Tirmidhee in his Sunan, the Prophetﷺ said, “The best of the people with Allah are those who go ahead of them to give the greeting of Salam.” The practice of Ibn Umar (radiya Allahu anhuma) shows the keenness of the companions – may Allah be pleased with them – to earn rewards from good deeds by adhering to the Sunnah. See narration no. 984 and 1006.

983. Jabir said, ” “Someone riding should greet someone walking, and someone walking should greet someone sitting down. When there are two people walking, the better of them is the one who gives the greeting first.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

984. Ibn ‘Umar said that al-Agharr (who was a man from Muzayna and had been a Companion of the Prophet) was owed some measures of dates by a man from the Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf who came to him many times. He said, “I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he sent Abu Bakr as-Siddiq with me.” He continues, “Everyone we met greeted us. Abu Bakr said, ‘Don’t you know that when people give the greeting before us, they have the reward? Give the greeting before them and you will have the reward.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)

985. Abu Ayyub reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “It is not lawful for a Muslim man to separate himself from his brother for more than three days. When they meet, and one turns away and the other turns away, the better of them is the one who gives the greeting first.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Islam prohibits these things since they incite disharmony in the community. As regards separating from a Muslim, Imam an-Nawawee (الله رحمه (said, “It is forbidden that Muslims separate from themselves for more than three days textually; but it is permissible for three days connotatively. He is only pardoned for those three days because man innately gets angry; so he is not held responsible for the period so that he could reconsider the case and calm the anger.”

chapter 450. The excellence of the greeting

986. Abu Hurayra reported that a man passed by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while hew as in an assembly and said, “Peace be upon you.” “Ten good deeds,” he said. Another man passed by and said, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.” The Prophet said, “Twenty good deeds.” Then yet another man passed by and said, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessing,” and the Prophet said, “Thirty good deeds.” Then a man in the gathering got up and did not give the greeting. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “How quickly your companion forgets! When one of you comes to an assembly, he should give the greeting. If he thinks he should sit down, he sits down. When he stands up, he gives the greeting. Neither is a greater duty than the other.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (observes, “Saying the greeting of Salam when one gets up to leave a gathering is an etiquette that is being abandoned in some of the lands. And the most apprioprate of those to revive it are the people of knowledge and its students. Thus it is pertinent that they say the Salam when they join the students in the class, for example, and likewise when they leave for the first is not more meritorious than the other.

987. ‘Umar said, “I was riding behind Abu Bakr and he passed by some people. He said, ‘Peace be upon you.’ They said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.’ He said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.’ They said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Today the people have been very much better than us.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

988. ‘A’isha reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Jews do not envy you for anything the way that they envy you for the salam and the Amin.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Jews are jealous of the Muslims for many of the Muslims’ beliefs and practices, which quite badly, has led to their serious hatred for the Muslims. Allah the Exalted says: “Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and those who are polytheists…” (Q 5: 82) 2. The hadeeth highlights the virtues of the greeting of Salam and the saying of Amin (O Allah, accept the supplication) during congregational Salat

chapter 451. Peace (as-Salam) is one of the Name so Allah

989. Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “As- Salam (peace) is one of the Names of Allah Almighty which Allah has placed in the earth. Therefore give the greeting among yourselves.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

990. Ibn Mas’ud said, ” They were doing the prayer with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and someone said, ‘Peace be upon Allah.’ When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, finished the prayer, he said, ‘Who said “Peace be upon Allah”? Allah is Peace. Rather say, “Greetings belong to Allah and good words and prayers. Peace be upon you, O Prophet and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon all the right-acting slaves of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.”‘” Ibn Mas’ud said, “They used to learn that as one of you would learn a sura from the Qur’an.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This hadeeth and the one that precedes it are evidences that establish that As-Salaam is from the Names of Allah the Mighty and Sublime. They show the significance of the expression, As-Salam alaykum… and encourage extending greetings to one another with the formula. In other versions of the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood, it added that after the death of the Prophetﷺ, they would say, “assalamu ‘ala an-Nabiyy – Peace be upon the Prophet” and not, “assalamu ‘alayka ayyuha an-Nabiyy – Peace be upon you, O Prophet”.

chapter 452. It is a duty for one Muslim to greet another Muslim when he meets him

991. Abu Hurayra said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘The rights a Muslim has over another Muslim are five.” He was asked, “What are they?” He replied, “When he meets him, he should greet him, When he gives him an invitation, he should accept. When he asks him for advice, he should give him good counsel. When he sneezes and praises Allah, he should wish him mercy. when he is ill, he should visit him. When he dies, he should accompany him.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The point of reference in this hadeeth here is that, it is from the rights of the Muslim that one extends the greeting of Salam to him. The point of reference in these narrations is that to supplicate for the one who sneezes and says, Alhamdulillah is from the obligations he is owed by everyone who hears him say, Alhamdulillah.

chapter 453. Someone walking greets the person sitting down

992. ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Shibl said that he heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The person riding should greet the person on foot. The person on foot should greet the person who is seated. The smaller group should greet the large. Whoever answers the greeting, that is for him. Whoever does not answer it, has nothing.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Since it is from the right of every Muslim that he is given the greeting of Salam when approached, this hadeeth clarifies the one with the greater obligation of starting the greeting. As regards the phrase, “…whoever does not answer it has nothing”, Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (noted, “That is, he has nothing of rewards; that (i.e. the reward) is only for the individuals that responded amongst the group. It (also) contains strong evidence that the single person’s reply is sufficient on behalf of the group…”

993. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The person riding greets the person walking. The person walking greets the person sitting. The small group greets the large group.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

994. Jabir said, “When two people walking meet, then the one who gives the greeting first is the better of them.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It could be deduced from this narration and those in Chapter 449 in relation to the chapter heading here, that although certain grups of people have greater obligation to commence the greeting, the other group too could initiate the greeting as was the practice of the companions – may Allah be pleased with them all – : “The better of them is the one who gives the greeting first.” See narration no. 997.

chapter 454. The person riding greets the person sitting

995. See 993.
Commentary: As No. 993, with a different isnād.

996. Fadala reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The person riding greets the person sitting and the small group greets the larger.”
Commentary: As Nos. 993-995. from Fadāla, with a different isnād.

chapter 455. Does the person walking greet the person riding?

997. Ash-Sha’bi said that he met a rider and gave the greeting first. I said, “Did you give the greeting first?” He said, “I saw Shurayh walking and he gave the greeting first.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It could be deduced from this narration and those in Chapter 449 in relation to the chapter heading here, that although certain grups of people have greater obligation to commence the greeting, the other group too could initiate the greeting as was the practice of the companions – may Allah be pleased with them all – : “The better of them is the one who gives the greeting first.”

chapter 456. A small group greets the large group

998. See 996.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

999. See 996.
Commentary: As above, with a different isnād.

chapter 457. The young person greets the old

1000. See 993.
Commentary: Similar to No.999, from Abū Hurayra, with a different isnād.

1001. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The young person greets the old person, the person walking greets the person sitting down, and the small group greets the large group.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The point of reference in the narration vis-a-vis the chapter heading is that, the older have a right to be greeted first by the young, and exhorts towards showing respect for elders.

chapter 458. The end of the greeting

1002. (sic) Abu’z-Zinad said, “Kharija (ibn Zayd ibn Thabit) used to write on the letter of Zayd when he said the salam, ‘Peace be upon you, Amir al-Mu’minin, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and His forgiveness and the best of His prayers.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Perhaps this narration from the companion – Zayd bin Thaabit – was mentioned with this chapter heading to show that one may add things like, “wa magfiratuh, wa teeb salawaatuhu (His forgiveness and the best of His blessings)” to the word, “wabarakatuhu (and His blessings)” when one initiates the greeting. However, it is authentically reported that Abdullah bin Abbass and Ibn Umar (radiya Allahu anhum) would disapprove of that. In the narration collected by Imam Malik in the Muwattau upon which Ibn Hajar was silent in al-Fath, Ibn Abbass said to the one who initiated the greeting with an addition that, “The greeting ends at al-Barakah (and His blessings).” This is the correct view more so, that an addition was neither taught by nor authentically linked to the Prophetﷺ. This was also the position of Imam Ibn Katheer and others (rahimahumullah). 2. As regards adding “wamagfiratuhu” to the expression, “wabarakatuh” while replying the greeting of Salam, Zayd bin Arqam reported that the Prophetﷺ said, “When the Prophetﷺ greets us with the Salam we would say, ‘Wa ‘alayka as-Salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh wamagfiratuh (And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and His forgiveness).’” Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth is-Saheehah (1449).

chapter 459. The person who greets by a gesture

1002. Abu Qurra al-Khurasani said, “I saw Anas pass by us and he indicated to us with his hand that he was giving the greeting., The gesture made that clear. I saw al-Hasan using yellow dye while wearing a black turban. Asma’ said, ‘The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, waved his hand to indicate the greeting to women.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1003. Sa’d reported that he went with ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and al-Qasim ibn Muhammad. They stopped at place and ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr commanded and made a gesture of greeting to them and it was answered.
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)
Commentary: The one who does a thing found disquieting by those around him may explain the reason for his action. 2. ‘Awf bin Malik was a companion of the Prophet ([r]) who witnessed the Triumph over Makkah; yet he sought to only have pious people around him. Katheer bin Murrah (الله رحمه (was a student of the companions; he met about seventy of those who fought at Badr among the companions – radiya Allahu anhum.

1004. ‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah said, “They used to dislike a greeting made with the hand,” or he said, “He disliked greeting with the hand.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Perhaps the basis for the disapproval of giving the greeting with the hand is the authentic narration collected by Imam at-Tirmidhee (رحمه الله (in his Sunan in which the Prophetﷺ prohibited it and mentined that it was from the ways of the Jews and the Christians.

chapter 460. Make it heard when you greet

1005. Thabit ibn ‘Ubayd said, “I came to a group which included ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar who said, ‘When you greet, make it clearly audible, for it is a greeting from Allah containing great blessing.:
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: From the Sunnah regarding the greeting is to make it audible to the person been greeted.

chapter 461. Someone who goes out, greets and is greeted

1006. At-Tufayl ibn Ubayy ibn Ka’b related that he used to visit ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and would go with him to the market. He said, “When we went to the market, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar did not pass by any rubbish collector nor merchant nor poor person nor anyone else without greeting them.” At-Tufayl said, “I came to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar one day and he asked me to follow him to the market. I said, ‘What is the point of you going to the market? You do not engage in selling nor ask about goods nor bargain for them nor sit in any of the groups in the market. Let us sit here and talk.’ ‘Abdullah said to me, ‘You with the belly! (at-Tufayl had a large belly.) We go out in the morning only for the sake of the greeting we give to those we meet.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 462. The greeting when someone comes to a gathering

1007. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When one of you comes to a gathering, he should give the greeting. If he leaves, he should give the greeting. Neither is more of a duty than the other.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (observes, “Saying the greeting of Salam when one gets up to leave a gathering is an etiquette that is being abandoned in some of the lands. And the most apprioprate of those to revive it are the people of knowledge and its students. Thus it is pertinent that they say the Salam when they join the students in the class, for example, and likewise when they leave for the first is not more meritorious than the other.

chapter 463. The greeting when someone leaves a gathering

1008. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “When a man comes to a gathering, he should give the greeting. When he sits down and then thinks that he should leave before the gathering has broken up, he should give the greeting. Neither is more of a duty than the other.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Imam Al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (observes, “Saying the greeting of Salam when one gets up to leave a gathering is an etiquette that is being abandoned in some of the lands. And the most apprioprate of those to revive it are the people of knowledge and its students. Thus it is pertinent that they say the Salam when they join the students in the class, for example, and likewise when they leave for the first is not more meritorious than the other.

chapter 464. The duty of someone who gives the greeting when he stands up

1009. Mu’awiya ibn Qurra said, “My father told me, ‘If you sit in a gathering expecting good to come from, but then something occurs which makes you leave, say, ‘Peace be upon you,’ and you will share in any good that they obtain in that gathering. There are no people who sit in a gathering and then split up without Allah having been mentioned, but that it is as if they were leaving the corpse of a donkey.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1010. Abu Hurayra said, “Whoever meets his brother should greet him. If a tree or wall comes between them and then he meets him, he should greet him on the other side.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The narration is also authentically reported from the companion, Abu Hurayrah from the Prophetﷺ. See narration no. 1011.

1011. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to gather and they would turn towards the tree and a group of them would go to the right and a group to its left. When they met again, they would greet one another.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: See narrations on Chapter 448.

chapter 465. The person who oils his hand for the handshake

1012. It is reported by Thabit al-Bannani that Anas used to oil his hand with scented oil in the morning for the sake of shaking hands with his brothers.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It shows the great importance the companions attached to the greeting of Salam. They would give the greeting in the most perfect form being the first to extend the greeting, give handshakes and even oil and perfume their hands before the shake. It also showed the importance they attached to clean and healthy life as opposed to the coarse, austere, self-imposed life some of the people live, claiming to seek Allah’s pleasure thereby: “Allah is clean and He only accepts that which is clean”!

chapter 466. Greeting those you know and those you do not know

1013. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that a man said, “Messenger of Allah, which aspect of Islam is best?” He replied, “Feeding people and greeting those you know and those you do not know.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: In other authentic reports, the Prophetﷺ outrightly mentioned giving the greeting of Salam only to those we know as from the signs of the Last Hour. Abdullah bin Mas’ood reproached the one who did that. The Sunnah is to give the greeting of Salam to those we know and those we do not know amongst the Muslims, fulfilling our duties to them and not being miserly as contained in the ahaadeeth mentioned earlier. However, when the Hour draws near the people will abandon this Sunnah, being undutiful and miserly giving the greeting only to those whom they know!

chapter 467. Chapter

1014. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade people to sit in courtyards and roads. The Muslims said, “We will not be able to avoid it. We cannot undertake it.” He said, “If not, then give it its due.” They said, “What is it due?” He said, “Lower the eye, guide the traveller, wish for mercy on the person who sneezes when he praises Allah and return the greeting.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: It indicates that students and subordinates may ask their teachers and superiors how to resolve a difficult matter into which they may fall due to particular instructions already given by them regarding the matters.

1015. Abu Hurayra said, “The most miserly of people is the person who is miserly with the greeting. The one who is cheated of good is the one who does not return it. if a tree comes between you and your brother, and you are able to be the first to begin the greeting before the other person, then do it.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

1016. Salim, the mawla of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, said, “When Ibn ‘Umar was greeted, he returned it with increase. I came upon him sitting down and said, ‘Peace be upon you,’ and he said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.’ Then I came another time and said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah,; and he said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.’ Then I came to him another time and said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings,’ and he said, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and the bet of His prayers.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 468. Do not greet a deviant person

1017. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘as said, “Do not greet anyone who drinks wine.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

1018. Al-Hasan said, “There should be not sense of respect between you and a deviant person.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: They would both be turning away from the Truth if they had cut off from each other merely for a worldly reason or Hawa (desire). However, if they had cut off for the sake of Allah, then it may be permissible or even encouraged or obligatory based on the condition. The death of any one of them both while they are still cut off (for worldly reasons or mere desire) from each other indicates that they will be meeting Allah the Mighty and Exalted, not having repented from that failing, thereby exposing themselves to nonentrance of the Paradise. The hadeeth is evidence that to extend the greeting of salam and responding to it is sufficient to end such break in relations. Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee explains, “Imam al-Bukhaari’s placement of this hadeeth under this chapter is to indicate the permissible form of cutting off, and that cutting off is in different forms depending on the reason for it. When it has to do with sin, they (i.e. the persons who commit such sins) deserve been cut off by not speaking to them as in the story of Ka’b and his two companions. As for that resulting from some mutual disagreement between members of a household or brothers, it would be permissible (based on this hadeeth) to leave out calling the person’s name, for example, or not showing friendly looks while not leaving to extend the greetings of salam and speech (with the person).” A’isha’s anger may result from matters of feelings of jealousy amongst the women in the household. Even at that, sincere love and great honor for the Prophetﷺ are deep-rooted in her heart such that she would only leave out his name while angry.

1019. ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah was heard expressing his dislike for chess and said, “Do not greet someone who plays it. It is a kind of gambling.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 469. Not greeting a man wearing khaluq-perfume and those in rebellion (against Allah)

1020. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, walked past some people who included a man who used khaluq perfume. He looked at them and gave them the greeting, but turns away from that man. The man asked, ‘Have you turned away from me?’ He replied, ‘There is redness between your eyes.'” [Khaluq is a reddish-yellow perfume usually used by women.]
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The Khaluq is coloured perfume used exclusively by women. So he – peace and blessings be upon him – turned away from the man because he imitated women in its use. Shaykh Husayn al-‘Awayisha (hafizahullah) advices, “It is good to look at the result of cutting off the sinner and not greeting him and things like that. If we note that doing that will further keep him away from Allah and make him persist in sin, then we should leave the cut-off and say the greeting to him.” Sharh Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad (3/155).

1021. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah reported that a man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wearing a gold signet-ring on his finger. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, turned away from him. When the man saw his dislike of the gold, he threw the ring away. He made an iron ring and wore that. He came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said, “This is worse. This is the ornament of the people of the Fire.” The man went away, threw it off and put on a silver ring and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not say anything about it.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)

1022. Abu Sa’id said, “A man came from al-Bahrayn to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and greeted him, but the Prophet did not answer him. The man was wearing a gold ring and a silk robe. The man went away in sorrow. He complained to his wife and she said, ‘Perhaps the Messenger of Allah objects to your robe and your ring. Throw them away and then go back.; he did that and then the Prophet returned his greeting. he said, ‘I came to you yesterday and you turned away from me.’ He said, ‘You had a coal of the Fire on your hand.’ He said, ‘I came then with any coals.’ He said, ‘As for what you brought, there is no one who is free from dependence on these stones. But it is the enjoyment of the life of this world.’ He said, ‘What should I make a ring from?’ ‘From silver, brass, or iron,’ he replied.
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 470. Greeting the Amir

1023. ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz asked Abu Bakr ibn Abi Hathama, “Why did Abu Bakr write, ‘From Abu Bakr, the Khalifa (Successor) of the Messenger of Allah’ and then ‘Umar wrote after him, ‘From ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, the khalifa (successor) of Abu Bakr’? Who was the first to write ‘the Amir al- Mu’minin’?” He replied, “My grandmother, ash-Shifa’, related to me, and she was one of the first to write ‘the Amir al-Mu’minin’?” He said, “My grandfather, ash-Shifa’ related to me, (and she was one of the first Muhajirun and when ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab entered the market, he visited her), saying, ”Umar ibn al-Khattab wrote to the governor of Iraq requesting him to send him two trustworthy noble men so that he could question them about Iraq and its people. He sent him a master of Iraq, Labid ibn Rabi’a and also ‘Adi ibn Hatim, and they came to Madina. They made their camels kneel in the courtyard of the mosque, entered it and found ‘Amr ibn al-‘As. They said to him, ”Amr, ask permission for us to visit the Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Umar.’ ‘Amr got up and went to ‘Umar. He said, ‘Peace be upon you, Amir al-Mu’minin.’ ‘Umar said to him, ‘Ibn al-‘As, what made you use this name? You have deviated from what you normally say.’ He said, ‘Yes, Labid ibn Rabi’a and ‘Adi ibn Hatim came and said to me, “Ask permission for us to visit the Amir al-Mu’minin.” I said, “You two, by Allah, have hit upon the correct name. He is the amir and we are the believers.”‘ The title originated on that day.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The point in this hadeeth with respect to the chapter title is ‘Amr’s greeting ‘Umar (radiya Allahu anhuma) with the greeting of Salam.

1024. ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abdullah said, “Mu’awiya went on his first hajj when he was the khalifa and ‘Uthman ibn Hanif al-Ansari came to him and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Amir, and the mercy of Allah.’ The people of Syria objected to that and said, ‘Who is this hypocrite who shortens the greeting of the Amir al-Mu’minin!’ ‘Uthman made his camel kneel and said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin! These men object to something which you know better than them. By Allah, I used to this greeting for Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthman, and none of them objected to it.’ Mu’awiya said to those of the people of Syria who had spoken, ‘Take it easy! It was partly as he stated. But when the civil war engaged the people of Syria, they said, “Do not shorten the greeting of our khalifa in our presence (i.e. from Amir al- Mu’minin to Amir).” People of Madina, I will treat you as friends even though you use ‘Amir” for a zakat collector.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: ‘Uthman bin Hunayf who had knelt down to show the significance of the matter rather than by way of greeting the Amir cited the fact that he had greeted Abu Bakr, Umar and ‘Uthman similarly since the Prophetﷺ had ordered the Ummah to follow the ways of these righteous caliphs. 2. The caliph – Mu’awiyah bin Abee Sufyan – reconciled the varying notions on the subject showing that dialogue is an important instrument to bring about peace and harmony. 3. The point in this hadeeth here is the greeting of Salam given to the Amir

1025. Jabir said, “I visited al-Hajjaj and did not greet him.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: See narrations in the preceding chapter. Hajjaaj bin Yoosuf was was a tyrannical ruler who shed the blood of the people with impunity!

1026. Tamim ibn Hadhlam said, “I will mention the first to be greeted as ‘Amir’ in Kufa. Al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba left by the Bab ar-Rahba and a man of Kinda came up to him. They claim that it was Abu Qurra al-Kindi. He greeted him and said, ‘Peace be upon you, O Amir, and the mercy of Allah.’ He disliked it. So the man said, ‘Peace be upon you, O Amir, and the mercy of Allah. Peace be upon you. Am I one of you or not?'” Sammak ibn Salama ad-Dabi said, “After that it became an established practice.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1027. Ziyad ibn ‘Ubayd (ar-Ru’ayni) said, “We went to Ruwayfa’, the Amir of Antabulis. A man came and greeted him, saying, ‘Peace be upon the Amir.’ From ‘Abda, he said, ‘Peace be upon the Amir.’ Ruwayfa’ said to him, ‘If you had greeted us, we would have returned the greeting. But you greeted Maslama ibn Mukhallad (Maslama was in charge of Egypt). Go to him and he will return your greeting.'” Ziyad said, “When we arrived, we greeted Ruwayfa’ while he was in his assembly, saying, ‘Peace be upon you.'”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 471. Greeting someone asleep

1028. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to come at night and would give the greeting in such a way that it would not awaken anyone asleep, but the person who was awake would hear it.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 472. May Allah preserve you

1029. ‘Umar said to ‘Adi ibn Hatim, “May Allah preserve you from recognition.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

chapter 473. Welcome

1030. ‘A’isha said, “Fatima walked in the same manner that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, walked. He used to say to her, ‘Welcome, my daughter!’ Then he would have her sit down on his right or his left.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1031. ‘Ali said, “‘Ammar asked for permission to enter to visit the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Prophet recognised his voice and said, ‘Welcome with the best and purest greeting!'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 474. How to return the greeting

1032. ‘Uqba ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr who said, “While we were sitting with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the shade of a tree while travelling between Makka and Madina, a bedouin, who was an example of the coarsest and fiercest kind of people came up and said, ‘Peace be upon you,’ and they said, ‘And upon you.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1033. Abu Jamra said, “I heard Ibn ‘Abbas say when he was greeted, ‘And upon you and the mercy of Allah.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This is not a well-known way of responding to the greeting of Salam. However, it is authentically established from the Prophetﷺ and is therefore, acceptable.

1034. Qayla reported that a mans aid, “Peace be upon you, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” He said, “And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound) and Saheeh (Authentic)

1035. Abu Dharr said, “I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he had finished his prayer. I was the first person to be greeted with the greeting of Islam. He said, ‘And on you and the mercy of Allah. From where have you come?’ I said, ‘From Ghifar.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1036. ‘A’isha reported, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ”A’ish! This is Jibril who sends you greetings.’ I said, ‘And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. You see what I do not see.” By that she meant the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1037. Mu’awiya ibn Qurra said that his father said to him, “My son, when a man passes by you and says, ‘Peace be upon you (plural).’ Do not say, ‘And on you (singular)’ as if you were singling out that greeting out for him alone. Rather say, ‘Peace be upon you (plural).'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 475. Someone who does not return the greeting

1038. ‘Abdullah ibn as-Samit said, “I said to Abu Dharr, ‘I passed by ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Umm al- Hakam and I greeted him and he did not answer me at all. He said, ‘Nephew, what harm have suffered from that? Someone better than him answered you ? the angel on his right.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth encourages disseminating the greeting of Salam and appeases the one who does not get response from the one to whom he extends the greeting. Although the ascription of the report here stops at the companion, similar narrations have been authentically reported from the Prophetﷺ. See Silsilat al-Ahaadeth is-Sahehah (184).

1039. ‘Abdullah said, “Peace is one of the Names of Allah which Allah has placed on the earth. Extend it among you. When a man greets people and they answer him, then he has a higher degree than them because he reminds them of peace. If no one answers him, he will be answered by one who is better and more excellent.'”
1039. ‘Abdullah said, “Peace is one of the Names of Allah which Allah has placed on the earth. Extend it among you. When a man greets people and they answer him, then he has a higher degree than them because he reminds them of peace. If no one answers him, he will be answered by one who is better and more excellent.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1040. Al-Hasan said, “Greeting is an act of obedience while the answer is a duty.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Some of the scholars have generally mentioned the like of the statement above; that initiating the greeting is only Mandoob (recommended) while responding is Wajib (obligatory). As regards the validity of the position, al-Imam al-Albaanee (الله رحمه (asserted: “The correctness of this generalization is disputable in my opinion because it implies that if two Muslims meet and no one amongst them both first greets his brother with the Salam – they just started talking – that they have not sinned! This clearly contradicts the various ahaadeeth that command giving the greeting of Salam and disseminating it and that it is from the duties of the Muslim to his brother to first initiate the greeting of Salam to him when he meets him and that the most miserly of the people is the one who is miserly with the greeting of Salam amongst other texts that emphasize that it is Wajib (obligatory) many of which had been cited earlier in this blessed book – Allah willing. Infact, that (i.e. the obligation) is further emphasized by the fact that he gave an array of who will be the first to initiate the greeting in some circumstances…” Saheeh Adab al-Mufrad (pg. 305).

chapter 476. Someone who is miserly with the greeting

1041. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said, “A liar is someone who lies in his oath. A miser is someone who is miserly with the greeting. A thief is someone who steals the prayer.”
Grade: Da’eef (Weak)

1042. Abu Hurayra said, “The most miserly of people is the one who is miserly with the greeting. The most incapable of people of people is the one who is the most incapable of supplication.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: This forms one of the evidences upon which the ruling on the obligation of initiating the greeting of Salam is based.

chapter 477. The Greeting to Children

1043. Thabit al-Bannani reported that Anas ibn Malik walked by some children and greeted them. He said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to do that.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary:It shows the tenderheartedness of the Prophetﷺ and demonstrates that children should be nutured along the lines of righteousness right from their very early ages.

1044. ‘Anbas said, “I saw Ibn ‘Umar greet children in the schools.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

chapter 478. Women greeting men

1045. Umm Hani’, the daughter of Abu Talib, said, “I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was performing a major ablution. I greeted him and he asked, ‘Who is this?’ ‘Umm Hani’,’ I replied. He said, ‘Welcome.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

1046. Al-Hasan said, “Be women who greet men.”
Commentary: This hadeeth and report from one of the pious predecessors and others in its meaning evince the fact that it is basically allowed for a woman to greet a man even though he is none of her Mahaarim. The Prophetﷺ was not a Mahram to Umm Hani (radiya Allahu anha) and the instance was on the day of the Triumph over Makkah not in the early days of Islam as some may wish to counter. However, based on the legal maxim of giving precedence to warding off evil over seeking benefits, “whosoever can vouch for himself about being steadfast should greet, but the one who cannot guarantee himself should not.” Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad (pg. 288).

chapter 479. Greeting women

1047. Asma’ was heard to say that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a group of women sitting down in the mosque. He said to the salam with his hand and said, “Beware of the ingratitude of those with blessings. Beware of the ingratitude of those with blessings.” One of them said, “We seek refuge with Prophet, Prophet of Allah, from ingratitude for the blessings of Allah.” He said, “Yes. One of you women might have been without a husband for a long time (and then Allah provides her with one) and she becomes angry and says, ‘By Allah, I have never seen a hour of good from you. That is ingratitude for the blessings of Allah. That is the ingratitude of those with blessings.'”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Asma here is bint Yazeed al-Ansaariyyah as mentioned in the next report. 2. The Prophetﷺ repeated the warning to show the seriousness of the matter. 3. It encourages seeking clarifications regarding an evil, seeking Allah’s refuge from it and avoid it. 4. The hadeeth points to the fact that being granted spouse is from the favours of Allah. As it should be with the women, the men should recognize this favour and treat their spouses kindly. 5. It is prohibited to be ungrateful of the favours of Allah. 6. The point of reference in the hadeeth is the permissibility of giving the greeting of Salam to women. This refutes the view of those who give a blanket ruling that it is prohibited.

1048. Asma’, the daughter of Yazid al-Ansari, said, “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by me while I was with some young slavegirls belonging to me. He greeted us and said, ‘Beware of the ingratitude of those with blessings.’ I was the boldest of them in coming forward to question him and I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, what is the ingratitude of those with blessings?’ He replied, ‘Perhaps one of them with remain unmarried for a long time with her parents and then Allah provides her with a husband and provides her with children from him and then she gets angry and is ungrateful and says, “I have never seen any good at all from you.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Asma here is bint Yazeed al-Ansaariyyah as mentioned in the next report. 2. The Prophetﷺ repeated the warning to show the seriousness of the matter. 3. It encourages seeking clarifications regarding an evil, seeking Allah’s refuge from it and avoid it. 4. The hadeeth points to the fact that being granted spouse is from the favours of Allah. As it should be with the women, the men should recognize this favour and treat their spouses kindly. 5. It is prohibited to be ungrateful of the favours of Allah. 6. The point of reference in the hadeeth is the permissibility of giving the greeting of Salam to women. This refutes the view of those who give a blanket ruling that it is prohibited.

chapter 480. Someone who dislikes to greet a particular person

1049. Tariq said, “We were sitting with ‘Abdullah when his doorkeeper came and said, ‘The iqama for the prayer has been given.’ He got up and we got up as well and went to the mosque. He saw the people doing ruku’ at the front of the mosque. He said the takbir, bowed, and we went and did the same thing that he had done. Then a man rushed past and said, ‘Peace be upon you, Abu ‘Abdu’r- Rahman.’ He said, ‘Allah has spoken the truth and His Messenger conveyed the Message.’ When we finished the prayer, he returned and went back to is people. We remained sitting in out places, waiting for him until he came out. We said to each other, ‘Which of us will ask him?’ Tariq said, ‘I will ask him,’ and he did so. ‘Abdullah said, ‘From the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said, “Before the Final Hour people will single out one individual for the greeting, commerce will increase until a woman helps her husband in business, people will sever their links with their relatives, knowledge will spread, false testimony will appear and true testimony will be concealed.”‘”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The Sunnah is to give the greeting of Salam to those we know and those we do not know amongst the Muslims, fulfilling our duties to them and not being miserly as contained in the ahaadeeth mentioned earlier. However, when the Hour draws near the people will abandon this Sunnah, being undutiful and miserly giving the greeting only to those whom they know! In other authentic reports, the Prophetﷺ outrightly mentioned giving the greeting of Salam only to those we know as from the signs of the Last Hour. Abdullah bin Mas’ood reproached the one who did that. The Sunnah is to give the greeting of Salam to those we know and those we do not know amongst the Muslims, fulfilling our duties to them and not being miserly as contained in the ahaadeeth mentioned earlier. However, when the Hour draws near the people will abandon this Sunnah, being undutiful and miserly giving the greeting only to those whom they know!

1050. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Which is the best of Islam?” He replied, “Feeding people and giving the greeting to those you know and those you do not know.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: In other authentic reports, the Prophetﷺ outrightly mentioned giving the greeting of Salam only to those we know as from the signs of the Last Hour. Abdullah bin Mas’ood reproached the one who did that. The Sunnah is to give the greeting of Salam to those we know and those we do not know amongst the Muslims, fulfilling our duties to them and not being miserly as contained in the ahaadeeth mentioned earlier. However, when the Hour draws near the people will abandon this Sunnah, being undutiful and miserly giving the greeting only to those whom they know!