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  • Is Saying Alsalaam U Alaykum Right?

    Posted by Ahmad Shoaib on December 10, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Al-An’am – 6:54

    Arabic

    وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا فَقُلۡ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمْۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَةَۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنۡ عَمِلَ مِنكُمۡ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ وَأَصۡلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

    Doesn’t this ayah say a different version of the greeting. Shouldn’t that be the correct way?

    Saba Madani replied 3 years, 5 months ago 5 Members · 23 Replies
  • 23 Replies
  • Is Saying Alsalaam U Alaykum Right?

    Saba Madani updated 3 years, 5 months ago 5 Members · 23 Replies
  • Nadeem Minhas

    Member December 10, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Isn’t it the same. Instructing to say Assalam-o-Alaikam?

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 10, 2020 at 6:54 pm

      I have heard an argument that the quran never says السلام عليكم but just سلام عليك so why does the sunnah refer to the former?

    • Nadeem Minhas

      Member December 10, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      I think it is something related to Arabic grammer. Hopefully soon a knowledgeable person would answer.

  • Ahsan

    Moderator December 11, 2020 at 1:29 pm

    If i know correctly, alikum is used for plural while alaik is for singular.
    But meaning are same so no problemo

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 11, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      Alsalaam and salaamun is different, one is ma’rifah and one is nakirah. But that’s not the point. The point is if this phrase was used in the Quran to desvribe what the sahabah say why isn’t the sunnah exactly the same?

    • Ahsan

      Moderator December 11, 2020 at 11:26 pm

      You are talking about using Al before salam. I was talking about alikum or alaik

      In my opinion, it will be better to use quranic word. But the meaning is not different so there shouldnt be any problem.
      Btw in Quran only salam has also been used in Surah Zuryat and Waqiya. So u can even use only salam as well.

      If i remember correctly there is an hadith i dont remeber reference. According to it, Prophet Mohammad saw fobid to use Alayk alsalam as it is used for dead people.

  • Afia Khan

    Member December 12, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    Imams Abu-Dawood and At-Termithi reported in a good hadith that a man came to the prophet (S.A.W.) and said, “Assalamu Alikum.” The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “Ten rewards.”

    Another man came and said, “Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatullh.” The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “twenty rewards.”

    Then another man came and said: Assalamu Alakum Wa Rahmatulah Wa Barakatuh. The prophet responded and the man sat down. The prophet said, “thirty rewards.” source

    When did it start?

    Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said, “When Allah created Adam he told him to go and say Assalamu Alikum to a group of Angels and listen to their reply. It is your greeting and the greeting of your descendants. Adam went and said: Assalamu Alikum they said Assalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatulah.”source

    Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the Jews offer you salutations, tome of them say as-Sam-u-‘Alaikum (death be upon you). You should say (in response to it): Let it be upon you.

    ‘A’isha reported that a group of Jews came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and sought his audience and said: As-Sam-u-‘Alaikum. A’isha said in response: As-Sim-u-‘Alaikum (death be upon you) and curse also, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said : ‘A’isha, verily Allah loes kindness in every matter. She said: Did you bear what they said ? Thereupon he said: Did you not hear that I said (to them): Wa ‘Alaikum.

  • Saba Madani

    Member December 12, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    السلام is actually one of the names of Allah, just like الرحمن، الرحيم etc.

    If you say سلام عليكم it means peace be upon you.

    Since السلام is name of Allah, it shouldn’t be used. Is this what Br. Shuaib is asking?

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 12, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is why is there a difference between the Quran saying that sahabah say salaamun alayka and the sunnah being alsalaamu alaykum.

      Shouldn’t the ka and kum be used for specific times of there being one person or multiple people also?

  • Saba Madani

    Member December 12, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    I think both can be used. But kum is more respectful way of saying it even if you are saying it to one person kum is used for respect also when you say salam to one person he is not alone,his angels are with himSmile

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 12, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Yes but still surely the description of the Quran with making salaam ma3rifah vs nakirah should be addressed still

    • Saba Madani

      Member December 12, 2020 at 4:55 pm

      Yes, hopefully someone will answer. And I also wanted to know Assalaam is Allah’s name. That means Assalaam = Allah.

      So Assalamu alaikum means Allah upon you. It doesn’t mean Allah’s peace upon you bcs it’s not salmullahi alaikum.

      In this regard salamun alaikum makes more sense?

    • Afia Khan

      Member December 12, 2020 at 5:23 pm

      As-Salaam is one of Allah’s Attribute. Which means peace. Not name.

      اسلام means the peace على means on كم is second person plural attach pronoun. Means you all

      Salamun means peace.

      Asalam Alaikum means the peace be onto you all. Some mufassir explain that it includes his/ her (the person you are greeting) angels too that is why it is plural.

      ك with fattah( zaba) is you (2nd person male singular) attach pronoun

      ك ki is you singular female.

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 12, 2020 at 5:31 pm

      Yes this is all grammar based. But my question still stands

    • Afia Khan

      Member December 12, 2020 at 5:33 pm

      This is for Saba.

    • Saba Madani

      Member December 14, 2020 at 10:32 am

      Yes, attribute of Allah. It’s His sifati name. When we say this sifati name, we are referring to Allah. Don’t we call upon Allah using his sifati names? Like ya Rahman, Ya Ghaffar, ya salaam etc?

    • Afia Khan

      Member December 14, 2020 at 11:45 am

      We know Allah SWT by His attributes. But it is also permissible to name a person (Rahman, Ghaffar, Salam) or call a person by these siffat (xyz is so merciful) with some exceptions. We provoke Allah by some particular Sift by knowing that He is Allah, the one who has that sift perfectly and has the ability and complete authority to grant His favors on us.

    • Saba Madani

      Member December 14, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      It’s permissible to name a person like Ghaffar, Raheem,Salaam etc but when we add “al” it’s for Allah. We can’t call a person al salaam

    • Afia Khan

      Member December 14, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      In 4:94 alSalaama is used for greeting of peace.

    • Saba Madani

      Member December 14, 2020 at 3:11 pm

      Correct

  • Afia Khan

    Member December 12, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    The نكره is general and معرفة is specific.

    The reason we say السلام عليكم is because it is سنة.

    • Ahmad Shoaib

      Contributor December 12, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      Yes I know. Why does the sunnah not align with the Quranic mention of the sahabah greeting the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ?

  • Afia Khan

    Member December 14, 2020 at 11:25 am

    Praise be to Allah.

    There is nothing wrong with the person who is initiating the greeting saying, “Salaamun ‘alaykum” or ‘Salaamun ‘alayk.” Allaah tells us that the greeting of the angels to the people of Paradise will be “Salaamun ‘alaykum” as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying):

    24. ‘Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!’”

    [al-Ra’d 13:23, 24]

    “And those who kept their duty to their Lord (Al-Muttaqoon – the pious) will be led to Paradise in groups till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein”

    [al-Zumar 39:73]

    The salaam in this form is also mentioned in the verse where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “Those whose lives the angels take while they are in a pious state (i.e. pure from all evil, and worshipping none but Allaah Alone) saying (to them): Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be on you) enter you Paradise, because of that (the good) which you used to do (in the world)”

    [al-Nahl 16:32]

    “And when they hear Al‑Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), they withdraw from it and say: ‘To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you (Salaamun ‘Alaykum). We seek not (the way of) the ignorant’”

    [al-Qasas 28:55]

    “When those who believe in Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you, say: Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be on you); your Lord has written (prescribed) Mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allaah), then surely, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

    [al-An’aam 6:54]

    Ibn Hibbaan narrated in his Saheeh (493) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he was in a gathering and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum.” He (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) said, “Ten hasanahs.” Another man passed by and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah).” He said, “Twenty hasanahs.” Then another man passed by and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings).” He said: “Thirty hasanahs.” A man got up and left the gathering and did not say salaam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “How soon your companion has forgotten. When one of you comes to a gathering and says salaam, if he wants to sit down then let him do so. Then when he wants to leave, let him say salaam, for the one is not more important than the other.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 2712.

    This and other evidence indicates that there is nothing wrong with saying salaam to a person by saying “Salaamun ‘alaykum.” He will be rewarded for that, and he deserves a response to his salaam.

    The scholars differed as to which version is better, al-salaamu ‘alaykum or salaamun ‘alaykum, or whether they are both the same.

    Al-Mardaawi said in al-Insaaf (2/563): If a person greets a living person, then the correct view in our madhhab is that he has the choice between using the definite form (with al-) or the indefinite (without al-). And he said: this was stated by more than one.

    Then he mentioned a report from Imam Ahmad which says that the definite form is better than the indefinite, and he quoted Ibn ‘Aqeel as saying that the indefinite is better than the definite.

    Al-Nawawi said in al-Adhkaar (p. 356-358):

    Note that it is preferable for the Muslim to say “al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu”, using the plural pronoun (-kum), even if he is greeting only one person. The respondent should say, “Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu.”

    Our companions said: If the one who is initiating the greeting says, “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum,” then he has given the greeting. If he said “al-salaamu ‘alayk” or “salaamun ‘alayk” this also counts as the greeting.

    As for the response, the minimum is to say, ‘Wa ‘alayk al-salaam” or “Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam.” If the waw is omitted and one says, “ ‘Alaykum al-salaam” that is sufficient and is a response.

    If the person who is initiating the greeting says “Salaamun ‘alaykum” or “al-salaamu ‘alaykum,” in both cases the respondent may say, “Salaamun ‘alaykum”, or he may say, “al-salaamu ‘alaykum”. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “When they came in to him and said: ‘Salaam, (peace be upon you)!’ He answered: ‘Salaam, (peace be upon you ),’”

    [al-Dhaariyaat 51:25]

    Imam Abu’l-Hasan al-Waahidi, one of our companions, said: You have the choice between using the definite form (al-salaam) or the indefinite (salaamun).

    I (al-Nawawi) say: But the alif and laam are preferable (i.e., saying the word salaam with the definite article al-).

    End quote.

    Secondly:

    What is makrooh is for the one who is initiating the greeting to say “ ‘Alayk al-salaam” or “ ‘Alaykum al-salaam,” because this is the greeting given to the dead as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said.

    Abu Dawood (5209) and al-Tirmidhi (2722) narrated that Abu Jurayy al-Hujaymi (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “ ‘Alayka’l-salaam (upon you be peace), O Messenger of Allaah.” He said, “Do not say ‘ ‘Alayka’l-salaam’, for ‘Alayka’l-salaam’ is the greeting of the dead.” This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

    What is meant by the Prophet’s words “‘Alayka’l-salaam’ is the greeting of the dead” is the fact that many poets and others greeted the dead in this manner. Moreover the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is to greet the dead in the same manner as he greeted the living, by saying “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum.”

    Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, explaining that: His greeting, when he was initiating the greeting, was to say, “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaah” He did not like the initiator to say “‘Alayka’l-salaam.” Abu’l-Jurayy al-Hujaymi said: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “ ‘Alayka’l-salaam (upon you be peace), O Messenger of Allaah.” He said, “Do not say ‘ ‘Alayka’l-salaam’, for ‘Alayka’l-salaam’ is the greeting of the dead.” A saheeh hadeeth.

    This hadeeth confused some people, who thought that it contradicted what was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about greeting the dead by saying, “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum,” saying the word salaam first. They thought that his words, “‘Alayka’l-salaam’ is the greeting of the dead” was describing what is prescribed, but that is a mistake which led them to think that there was a contradiction. Rather what is meant by the words “‘Alayka’l-salaam’ is the greeting of the dead” is a statement of something that used to happen, not something that was prescribed, namely that the poets and others used to greet the dead in this manner, and he did not like the greeting commonly used for the dead to become widespread.

    End quote from Zaad al-Ma’aad, 2/383

    Thirdly:

    The most complete form of greeting is to say “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings)” or “Salaamun ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu”, because of the hadeeth of Ibn Hibbaan quoted above.

    As for adding the words “wa maghfiratuhu (and His forgiveness)” or “wa ridwaanuhu (and His pleasure)”, these are not mentioned in any saheeh report from our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as was stated by Ibn al-Qayyim in Zaad al-Ma’aad, 2/381, and by al-Albaani in Da’eef Abi Dawood, 5196.

    And Allaah knows best.

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