Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The meaning of the Muslim greeting: السلام عليك

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
The Muslim greeting: السلام عليك is a supplication for peace and safety. Meaning: May Allaah protect you from affliction and harm - in your Deen (religiosity) and your worldly life, in your own self and your family, and in your home and your wealth; i.e. seeking protection in everything. This is the meaning with which a person starts (his conversation) when he meets his brother: السلام عليك. You are asking Allaah to protect him from every calamity, disaster and ordeal; and from every harm and adversity (and unpleasant things). This is the meaning of السلام, which also enacts as a greeting, generous reception and buoyancy when meeting a person. This is why when you come across a person and he does not greet you, automatically you sense (an ill) feeling within you against him. But when he greets you, whatever (ill) feeling you had goes away, and you now know that he is your brother who loves you.*

So with this the meaning of السلام عليك becomes: “I seek Allaah’s protection for you from every harm - in your Deen and Dunya, and in your family and wealth and in everything.

[al-Liqaa’ al-Shahree (13/3)] 


*Note: Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! You will not enter the Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread the greetings of Salaam amongst yourselves. [Saheeh Muslim (96)]

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