Considerations to keep in mind when initiating and responding to greetings of Salaam

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: Whoever says “As-Salamu Alaykum” will receive ten good deeds. If one says, “As-Salaamu Alaykum Wa Ramatullah”, they will be granted twenty good deeds. If one says, “As-Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu”, they will earn thirty good deeds. [1]

A man approached the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and greeted him with “As-Salaamu Alaykum”. The Prophet responded to the greeting and the man took a seat. The Prophet then said: “Ten (good deeds)”. Then another individual arrived and said, “As-Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah”. The Prophet replied and the man sat down, to which the Prophet said: “Twenty (good deeds).” Then (a third) person came and greeted, “As-Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatuhu”. The Prophet responded, and after the man sat, he said: “Thirty (good deeds).” [2]

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The younger should greet the older one, the riding person should greet the walking one, and the walking one should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons.” [3]

Thirdly, have you not come across the Ayah:
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ ۥ عَشۡرُ أَمۡثَالِهَا‌ۖ

Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit. [Al-An’aam. 160] – Meaning, whether in speech or action, whether apparent or concealed, pertaining to the rights of Allah or the rights of the creation, “shall have ten times the like thereof”. This is the minimum level of its increase. [4]

By starting the Salaam and choosing different phrases, we can earn either 10, 20, or 30 good deeds InShaAllah. Additionally, every good deed you perform is automatically valued at 10 good deeds. With this in mind, who would want to wait for someone else to greet them first?!

It Is Obligatory to Reply to Salaam

Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgess, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Imam Ibn Abdul-Barr, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: The obligation of returning the Islamic greeting is (found in the) statement:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا

”When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.” [An-Nisa 86]

Imam Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: To give the Islamic greeting is voluntary and it is an obligation to return it. This is what all the scholars say- that it is obligated to the one who is given the salaam to reply and he has sinned if he does not reply because he has opposed Allah’s command. The abandonment of returning the Islamic greeting is an evil and ugly deed and many people have been afflicted with it in this era. They are prevented from it due to pride and self-amazement. So, we gently say to all of them, ”Who are you?! From what did you come from?” Allah says:

مِنۡ أَىِّ شَىۡءٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ
مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ خَلَقَهُ ۥ فَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ

From what thing did He create him? From Nutfah (male and female semen drops) He created him and then set him in due proportion. [Abasa. 17-18]

Are you greater in status than the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! Indeed he returned the Islamic greeting of the young, the old, the free person, and the slave, and he also greeted them. We ask Allah for guidance and success for all. Also when a person is leaving a gathering and gives the Salaam, it is obligatory to reply to him. [5]

Extend Equal Respect to All When Initiating or Responding to Greetings

Abdullah Bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: A man asked the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?” The Prophet replied, “To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not Know”. [6]

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Verily, among the signs of the Hour, is that a man would not give another man Salaam except due to being acquainted with him”. [7]

“Verily, during the approach of the hour, the greeting will only be given to one who is specifically (known to the one who gives the greeting). [8]

As-Sa’khawee, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “The greeting of the select few refers to those whom one chooses to greet, whether due to their prominence or for reasons such as desiring (something) or out of fear“. [9]

We ask Allah:

اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي
“O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well”.

Keep in mind during the summer months when we enjoy sitting at outdoor cafes:
https://salafidawah.uk/2024/04/12/some-rights-of-the-road-when-we-decide-to-sit-outside-cafes-or-the-masjid-especially-during-summer/

[1] Sahih Targhib 2711

[2] Sahih Abi Dawud 5195

[3] Al-Bukhari 6232

[4] An from Tafsir “As-Sadi”

[5]An Excerpt from ‘Al-Ilaam Bi-Ba’di Ahkaam As-Salaam’: 11-12

[6] Al-Bukhari 12

[7] Silsilah As-Sahihah 2/147

[8] Silsilah As-Sahihah 647

[9] Al-Qana’ah Feemaa Yahsunu Al-I’haatah Bihi Min Ash’raat As-Saa’ah 87