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Islamic Greetings

A man came to Prophet(pbuh) and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum.” He (the Prophet (pbuh) said, “10 hasanahs.”. Another man passed by and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi .” He(pbuh) said, “20 hasanahs.”.Then another man passed by and said, “Salaamun ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allaahi wa barakaatuhu.” He(pbuh) said: “30 hasanahs.”


Abu Dawood (5176) and al-Tirmidhi (2689)

There is sawab even when we greet each other with the Islamic greetings. This proves how simple is the din of islam for us. even if we greet each other properly, we ear reward. But when we depart, a common practice has become that while leaving people say good bye, or fi amanillah, or khuda hafiz etc. but this is not what we are suppose to say while departing. Similarly while conveying the salam or message of a person not present we do not take care of the words we utter while delivering the message. Below is given the right greetings while departing or conveying message.

 Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w said:

A man got up and left the gathering and did not say salaam. The Prophet (pbuh) 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.”

Ibn Hibbaan narrated in his Saheeh (493), saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 2712.
This hadith gives us another important lesson along with the lesson of paying salam when leaving, it talks about equality of men sitting in gathering that no one in the gathering is better or over the other sitting in the same gathering.  Similarly, another hadith says,

Prophet(pbuh) said, "When one of you arrives in a gathering, he should offer Salam to those who are already there, and he should also do so when he intends to depart. The first act of greeting is not more meritorious than the last.''

[Abu Dawud].

i.e. the greeting at the arrivals and while departing are both equally important.

The greeting to the third person is also an important issue which needs special attentions. There is a hadith narrated in bukhari,

Aishah (ra) reported: Prophet(pbuh) said to me, "This is Jibril (Gabriel) who is conveying you greetings of peace.'' I responded: "Wa `Alaihis-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (may he be safe from evil, and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be upon him).''[Bukhari V5,B57,Number 112 and Muslim B31, Number 5997].
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Commentary by Imam Nawavi: It also tells us how to respond to the Salam of a third person, that is, we should say, "Wa `Alaihis-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.'
Say the proper greetings and earn reward.
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