Greetings

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: A man asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Which deed in Islam is the best? He said: "Feeding people and extending the greeting of peace to those you know and those you do not know."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah created Adam (peace be upon him), He said to him: 'Go and greet those – a group of angels who were sitting – and listen to what they are going to say in response to your greeting as that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.' He (Adam) said: 'As-Salāmu ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).' They replied: 'As-Salāmu ‘alayk wa rahmatullāh (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you),' thus adding 'wa-rahmatullāh (and mercy of Allah)' in their response to his greeting."

Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us with seven and forbade us from seven: He commanded us to visit the sick, to follow the funeral, to say Tashmīt to the sneezer, to fulfill the oath, or the one making an oath, to support the oppressed, to respond to the inviter, and to spread the greeting of peace. He forbade us from rings—or from wearing rings—of gold, from drinking in silver, from Mayāthir, from Qassiy, and from wearing silk, Istabraq, and Dībāj.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I guide you to something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves."

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) spoke a word, he would repeat it thrice until it is understood from him. Whenever he greeted a group of people, he would greet them thrice.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who is riding should greet the one walking, the one who is walking should greet the one sitting, and the small group of people should greet the large one." A version of Al-Bukhāri reads: "The young should greet the old, the passerby should greet the one who is sitting, and the small group of people should greet the larger one."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you meets his brother, let him greet him with peace. If a tree, a wall, or a rock comes between them and then he meets him, let him greet him with peace again."

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by some boys, so he greeted them with Salām and said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do so (greet children with Salām).

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or Christians, and if you meet one of them on the way, force him to narrowest part thereof."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you arrives at a gathering, let him greet with peace. When he wants to leave, let him greet with peace, for the first is not more deserving than the last."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sneezed, he would put his hand—or his garment—over his mouth and lower—or drop—his voice therewith.

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you yawns, let him put his hand over his mouth, for indeed, the devil enters."

Abu al-Khattāb Qatādah reported that he asked Anas: "Was handshake common among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" He replied: 'Yes.'

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the people of Yemen came, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There have come to you the people of Yemen." They were the first to bring the (practice of) handshake.

Al-Barā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No two Muslims meet and shake hands except that their sins are forgiven before they part."

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, when a man amongst us meets a brother or a friend, should he bow to him?" He said: ‘No.’ He said: "Should he embrace and kiss him?" He said: ‘No.’ He said: "Should he take his hand and shake it?" He said: ‘Yes.’”

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Do not belittle any good deed, even if it be meeting your brother with a cheerful face."