The Book of Greetings

كتاب السلام

Chapter 2: One Of The Duties Of Sitting In The Street Is To Return Salam

Abu Talha reported

While we were sitting in front of the houses and talking amongst ourselves, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) happened to come there. He stood by us and said: What about you and your meetings on the paths? Avoid these meetings on the paths. We said: We were sitting here without (any intention of doing harm to the passers-by) ; we are sitting to discuss matters and to hold conversation amongst ourselves. Thereupon he said: If there is no help (for you but to sit on these paths), then give the paths their rights and these are lowering of the gaze, exchanging of greetings and good conversation.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zaid b. Aslam with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 4: The Prohibition Of Initiating The Greeting With The People Of The Book, And How To Respond To Them

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that some people from amongst the Jews said to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) Abu'l-Qasim. as-Sam-u-'Alaikum, whereupon he said

Wa 'Alaikum, A'isha was enraged and asked him (Allah's Apostle) whether he had not heard what they had said. He said, I did hear and I retorted to them (and the curse that I invoked upon them would receive response from Allah), but (the curse that they invoked upon us) would not be responded.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Suhail with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording. The hadith transmitted on the authority of Waki', the words are 'When you meet the Jews." And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Shu'ba, the words are

'When you meet the People of the Book." And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Jarir the words are:" When you meet them," but none amongst the polytheists has been mentioned explicitly by name.

Chapter 6: It Is Permissible To Give Permission To Enter By Raising The Curtain Or Giving Some Other Sign

Ibn Mas'ud reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: The sign that you have been permitted to come in is that the curtain is raised or that you hear me speaking quietly until I forbid you.

Chapter 7: The Permissibility Of Women Going Out To Relieve Themselves

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 8: The Prohibition Of Being Alone With A Non-Mahram Woman Or Entering Upon Her

`Uqba b. `Amir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Beware of getting, into the houses and meeting women (in seclusion). A person from the Ansar said: Allah's Messenger, what about husband's brother, whereupon he (ﷺ) said: Husband's brother is like death.

Chapter 1: The One Who Is Riding Should Greet The One Who Is Walking, And The Smaller Group Should Greet The Larger Group

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The rider should first greet the pedestrian, and the pedestrian the one who is seated and a small group should greet a larger group (with as-Salam-u-'Alaikum).

Chapter 2: One Of The Duties Of Sitting In The Street Is To Return Salam

Abu Sa'id Khudri reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

Avoid sitting on the paths. They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, we cannot help but holding our meetings (in these paths) and discuss matters (there). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: If you insist on holding meetings, then give the path its due right. They said: What are its due rights? Upon this he said: Lowering the gaze, refraining from doing harm, exchanging of greetings. commanding of good and forbidding from evil.

Chapter 3: One Of The Rights Of One Muslim Over Another Is (The Greeting Of) Salam

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim. It was said to him: Allah's Messenger, what are these? Thereupon he said: When you meet him, offer him greetings;when he invites you to a feast accept it. when he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says:" All praise is due to Allah," you say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you) ; and when he fails ill visit him; and when he dies follow his bier.

Chapter 4: The Prohibition Of Initiating The Greeting With The People Of The Book, And How To Respond To Them

Anas reported that the Companions of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said to him

The People. of the Book offer us salutations (by saying as-Salamu- 'Alaikum). How should we reciprocate them? Thereupon he said: Say: Wa 'Alaikum (and upon you too).

Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

When the Jews offer you salutations, some of them say as-Sam-u-'Alaikum (death be upon you). You should say (in response to it): Let it be upon you.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of wording.

'A'isha reported that some Jews came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and they said

Abu'l-Qasim (the Kunya of the Holy Prophet), as-Sam-u-'Alaikum, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Wa 'Alaikum. A'isha reported: In response to these words of theirs, I said: But let there be death upon you and disgrace also, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'A'isha, do not use harsh words. She said: Did you hear what they said? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Did I not respond to them when they said that; I said to them: Wa 'Alaikum (let it be upon you).

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it.

Chapter 5: It Is Recommended To Greet Children With Salam

Anas b. Malik reported that when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) happened to pass by young boys he would great them.

Chapter 7: The Permissibility Of Women Going Out To Relieve Themselves

A'isha reported that Sauda (Allah he pleated with her) went out (in the fields) in order to answer the call of nature even after the time when veil had been prescribed for women. She had been a bulky lady, significant in height amongst the women, and she could not conceal herself from him who had known her. 'Umar b. Khattab saw her and said

Sauda, by Allah, you cannot conceal from us. Therefore, be careful when you go out. She ('A'isha) said: She turned back. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was at that time in my house having his evening meal and there was a bone in his hand. She (Sauda) cline and said: Allah's Messenger. I went out and 'Umar said to me so and so. She ('A'isha) reported: There came the revelation to him and then it was over; the bone was then in his hand and he had not thrown it and he said:" Permission has been granted to you that you may go out for your needs."

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters, and the words are

She (Sauda) was a woman who looked to be significant amongst the people (so far as the bulk of her) body was concerned. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Chapter 8: The Prohibition Of Being Alone With A Non-Mahram Woman Or Entering Upon Her

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yazid b. Abu Habib with the same chain of transmitters.