Hadith Text

A person asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ): "What (sort of) deeds in or (what qualities of) Islam are good?" He replied, "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you don't know."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (28) contains profound wisdom regarding the essence of righteous conduct in Islam. The Prophet's response emphasizes two fundamental aspects of Islamic character: social responsibility through feeding the poor, and universal brotherhood through the greeting of peace.

Feeding the poor represents the practical manifestation of faith through charity and concern for others' welfare. This act strengthens community bonds and fulfills the rights of fellow Muslims.

The command to greet both known and unknown persons establishes the principle of universal Islamic brotherhood. The greeting "As-salamu alaykum" (peace be upon you) is not merely a social courtesy but a prayer for divine protection and mercy upon fellow believers.

Scholars note that these two actions combine both material and spiritual dimensions of worship - feeding addresses physical needs while greeting nurtures spiritual connections. Together, they create a balanced approach to Islamic practice that benefits both individual and society.

Legal and Spiritual Dimensions

Classical scholars classify feeding the poor as highly recommended (mustahabb) and in some circumstances obligatory when dealing with extreme need. The greeting of peace is considered a confirmed Sunnah when meeting fellow Muslims.

This teaching demonstrates that Islam values both the rights of Allah (Huquq Allah) and the rights of creation (Huquq al-'Ibad). The combination shows that true faith manifests in both vertical relationship with Allah and horizontal relationships with people.