Salam: Difference between revisions

'''Salām''' (Arabic: {{ia|سلام}}) is an Islamic greeting and salutation. It literally means health, safety or peace. The [[Qur'an]] and [[hadith]]s have emphasized on saying Salam and counted it as one of the highly recommended acts ([[mustahab]]) in [[Islam]]. Responding Salam is an immediate obligation ([[al-wajib al-fawri]]) even for one who is [[Salat|praying]]; however, if a person from a group responds to Salam, it is no longer an obligation to the others to respond. Saying Salam has special etiquette and rulings, and it has several functions in the Qur'an and Islamic tradition.  

Lexically, Salam means health, safety or peace.<ref><nowiki>''</nowiki>AL-Muʿjam al-wasīṭ<nowiki>''</nowiki>.</ref> The word "Salam" was chosen for greeting<ref>[https://www.vajehyab.com/dehkhoda/%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85 The meaning of the word Salam(hello)]</ref>; as it means praying for being away from physical and religious defects. Moreover, Salam is considered as a [[covenant]] among Muslim to protect each other's lives, property and honor.<ref>ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, ''Muʿjam al-muṣṭalaḥāt wa l-alfāẓ al-fiqhīyya, vol. 2, p. 284.''</ref> The Qur'an says Salam is a blessed and pure greeting from God to the faithful: "greet yourselves with a salutation from Allah, blessed and good."<ref>Qur'an, 24:61.</ref>

According to majority of [[faqihs]] there are four phrases for saying Salam:<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 103.</ref>  

Some said that these four phrases are the only phrases for saying Salam.<ref>Baḥrānī, ''Al-Ḥadāʾiq al-nāḍira,'' vol. 9, p. 72.</ref> On the contrary, some maintain that every phrase that is recognized as greeting and salutation is counted as a phrase of Salam; whether it is "Salam 'Alaykum," "'Alaykum al-Salam" or even "Salam" per se.<ref>Ḥillī, ''Mukhtalaf al-Shīʿa,'' vol. 2, p. 204; Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 103.</ref>  

Salam is one of Allah's attributes] that can have three meanings.

* First, as a [[Negative Attribute]] that indicates the almighty God is pure from all shortcomings which relate to His creatures.<ref>Samʿānī, ''Rawḥ al-arwāḥ,'' p. 21.</ref><ref>Ṣadūq, ''Al-Tawḥīd,'' p. 204.</ref> Supporting and explaining this meaning [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]] says, interpreting this verse of the Qur'an "For them will be Dar al-Salam (house of peace) near their Lord,"<ref>Qura'n, 6:127.</ref>: "Salam" is God and "Dar" is Paradise. Paradise is called Dar al-Salam because it is away from this world's shortcomings.<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Al-Tawḥīd,'' p. 205.</ref>

* Second, is an [[Attribute of Action]], which means the health giver.<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Al-Tawḥīd,'' p. 204; Kafʿamī, ''Al-Miṣbāḥ,'' p. 318.</ref>

The Qur'an has counted Salam as the greeting of dwellers of [[Paradise]],<ref>Qura'n, 10:10.</ref> and has ordered Muslims to say Salam.<ref>Qura'n, 24:61.</ref> In [[hadith]]s, it is counted as one of the [[Prophet's traditions]] and as one of the highly recommended acts ([[mustahab]]). It is narrated from the Prophet (s): "Do not respond to one who has started speaking without Salam."<ref>Kulaynī, ''Uṣūl al-kāfī,'' vol. 4, p. 459.</ref>

[[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] says, "Indeed God likes Salam to be audible.<ref>Kulaynī, ''Al-Kāfī,'' vol. 2, p. 645.</ref>" Explaining this hadith [[al-Fayd al-Kashani]] writes: "it means whenever you met someone, say Salam, regardless to what kind of person he is."<ref>Fayḍ al-Kāshānī, ''Kitāb al-Wāfī,'' vol. 5, p. 596.</ref>

[[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]: "the young should greet the old, the one who is passing should greet the one who is sitting, a small group should greet the larger group."<ref>Muṣṭafawī, ''Uṣūl al-kāfī,'' vol. 4, p. 462.</ref>

Imam al-Sadiq (a): "the one who starts saying Salam, is closer to God and His apostle."<ref>Muṣṭafawī, ''Uṣūl al-kāfī,'' vol. 4, p. 460.</ref>

Imam al-Sadiq (a): "whoever says 'al-Salam 'Alaykum', there are 10 good [deeds' [[reward]]] for him and whoever says 'al-Salam 'Alaykum wa Rahmat Allah' there are 20 good for him, and whoever says 'al-Salam 'Alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh' there are 30 good for him."<ref>Muṣṭafawī, ''Uṣūl al-kāfī,'' vol. 4, p. 461.</ref> Based on Islamic traditions, it is better to respond Salam or a greeting by a more complete or at least the same phrase. The Qur'an reads: "When you are greeted with a salute, greet with a better one than it, or return it; indeed, Allah takes account of all things".<ref>Qur'an, 4:86</ref>

Moreover, shaking hands, while saying Salam, with the one who is not going to travel and hugging the one who wants to travel is mustahab (recommended).<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''wasāʾil al-Shīʿa,'' vol. 12, p. 73.</ref>

To say Salam first is highly recommended ([[mustahab]]) and abandoning it is disliked ([[makruh]]),<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''wasāʾil al-Shīʿa,'' vol. 12, p. 57.</ref> however the one who is in the middle of Salat must not say Salam first.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāʾī Yazdī, ''Al-ʿUrwat al-wuthqā'', vol. 3, p. 15.</ref> It is also recommended to say Salam to yourself when entering an empty house, using this phrase: "al-Salam 'Alayna min 'ind Rabbina" (a Salam from our Lord be upon us).<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''wasāʾil al-Shīʿa,'' vol. 12, p. 80-81.</ref> Likewise, saying Salam for goodbye when leaving a place is mustahab,<ref>Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''wasāʾil al-Shīʿa,'' vol. 12, p. 83.</ref> however there is disagreement whether its response is [[wajib]] (obligatory) or mustahab (recommended).<ref>Ḥillī, ''Tadhkirat al-fuqahāʾ'', vol. 9, p. 23; Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 84, p. 276; Qummī, ''Ghanāyim al-ʾayyām,'' vol. 3, p. 236; Anṣārī, ''Sirat al-najat,'' vol. 3, p. 291.</ref>  

Men are allowed to say Salam to [[non-Mahram]] women, and vice versa, unless there is fear of committing a [[sin]].<ref>Baḥrānī, ''Al-Ḥadāʾiq al-nāḍira'', vol. 9, p. 83; Narāqī, ''Mustanad al-Shīʿa'', vol. 7, p. 73; Ṭabāṭabāʾī Yazdī, ''ʿUrwat al-wuthqā,'' vol. 3, p. 25.</ref> However, some have asserted that it is Makruh (disliked) for a man to say Salam to a young non-Mahram woman.<ref>Qummī, ''Ghanāyim al-ʾayyām,'' vol. 3, p. 237.</ref>  

Saying Salam is mustahab; but responding it is [[wajib]] even for the one who is in the middle of a prayer.<ref>ʿĀmilī, ''Miftāḥ al-kirāma,'' vol. 4, p. 973; Narāqī, ''Mustanad al-Shīʿa'', vol. 7, p. 67.</ref> Responding Salam is [[al-wajib al-fawri]] (immediate obligation),<ref>ʿĀmilī, ''Miftāḥ al-kirāma,'' vol. 4, p. 969; Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 111.</ref> i.e. it must be replied immediately.<ref>Muḥaqqiq Sabziwārī, ''Dhakhīrat al-maʿād,'' p. 367; Baḥrānī, ''Al-Ḥadāʾiq al-nāḍira,'' vol. 9, p. 81.</ref>

Moreover, responding a Salam is also [[al-wajib al-kifa'i]] (collective compulsion) i.e. if a person from a group respond the Salam, it is no longer wajib for others to respond it.<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 106.</ref> According to majority of faqihs the response must be loud enough to be heard by the one who said Salam first;<ref>Muḥaqqiq Sabziwārī, ''Dhakhīrat al-maʿād,'' p. 366; Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 108.</ref> nevertheless, some have doubted its obligation<ref>Muqaddas Ardibīlī, ''Majmaʿ al-fāʾida'', vol. 3, p. 119-120.</ref> and some said that during [[prayer]] a quiet response will suffice as well.<ref>Ḥillī, ''Al-Muʿtabar,'' vol. 2, p. 264.</ref>

Responding a Salam delivered by another person<ref>It means that someone says that another person greeted(said hello to) you.</ref> is not wajib, although it is mustahab to respond it by: "'Alayk wa 'Alayh al-Salam" (be upon you and upon him the peace).<ref>Baḥrānī, ''Al-Ḥadāʾiq al-nāḍira,'' vol. 9, p. 82.</ref> Likewise, responding to a written Salam - as in letters - is not wajib, but [[mustahab]].<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 110-111.</ref>

To be the first one to say Salam while praying is not permissible;<ref>Ṭabāṭabāʾī Yazdī, ''Al-ʿUrwat al-wuthqā,'' vol. 3, p. 15.</ref> however, responding to Salam is wajib in this state.<ref>ʿĀmilī, ''Miftāḥ al-kirāma,'' vol. 4, p. 973; Narāqī, ''Mustanad al-Shīʿa'', vol. 7, p. 67.</ref> According to majority of faqihs, the response of Salam while praying must be the same as Salam, i.e. if someone said "Salam 'Alaykum" the one who is praying must respond "Salam 'Alaykum"; while other responses such as "'Alaykum al-Salam" are not allowed.<ref>Najafī, ''Jawāhir al-kalām,'' vol. 11, p. 101.</ref>  

Salam and its derivatives have been used 140 times in the [[Qur'an]].<ref>Rūḥānī, ''Al-Muʿjam al-Iḥsāʾī'', vol. 1, p. 485.</ref> In his book ''al-Salam fi al-Qur'an wa al-hadith'', al-Gharawi maintains that Salam has been used in various meanings in the Qur'an, and by studying these usages it can be concluded that Salam has four main meanings in the Qur'an:<ref>Gharawī, ''Al-Salām fī l-Qurʾān wa l-ḥadīth'', p. 28-29.</ref>

* An attribute of God: "He is Allah—there is no god except Him—the Sovereign, the All-holy, the Impeccable …".<ref>Qur'an, 59:23.</ref>

* Peace and leaving war: "do not say to someone who offers you peace, 'You are not a believer,' …".<ref>Qur'an, 4:94.</ref>

* Universal primary peace: "O you who have faith! Enter into peace (and reconciliation), all together …".<ref>Qur'an, 2:208.</ref>

* Greeting and salutation:<ref>Qur'an, 37:79-109-120-130-181; Qur'an, 11:48; Qur'an, 27:59; Qur'an, 6:54; Qur'an, 51:25; Qur'an, 13:23-24.</ref> the author believes that Salam has been used in this meaning in many case in the Qur'an and it is a comprehensive meaning that includes all the other meanings of this word.<ref>Gharawī, ''Al-Salām fī l-Qurʾān wa l-ḥadīth,'' p. 29.</ref> He mentions that in 10 verses of the Qur'an,  Salam is explicitly used in this meaning.<ref>Gharawī, ''Al-Salām fī l-Qurʾān wa l-ḥadīth'', p. 19-56.</ref>

The final part of a [[salat]] (prayer) is Taslim (saying Salam), which is performed after the last [[tashahhud]] in salat. Taslim is one of its compulsory acts, although it is not a Rukn (necessary element). It is a part of every Salat except for [[Funeral Prayer]].