Greeting Etiquette
Total Hadiths 15
Prophetic Teachings and Hadiths on Islamic Greeting Etiquette
Islamic greeting etiquette provides clear guidelines on how to spread peace and interact with others respectfully. According to these authentic prophetic traditions, specific social dynamics determine who initiates a greeting. For instance, a rider is encouraged to greet a walking pedestrian first, just as a pedestrian should initiate greetings with someone who is seated. Additionally, smaller gatherings or groups should offer salutations to larger groups. When interacting with the People of the Book, the Prophet instructed believers to respond with a simple and fair reply. If they extend a greeting, you should return it by saying 'and upon you too.' These direct teachings emphasize mutual respect, order, and maintaining appropriate boundaries in communication.
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " فَقُولُوا وَعَلَيْكَ " .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Umar through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2164bIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 10USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5383
حَدَّثَنَاهُ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْلَى بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَفَطِنَتْ بِهِمْ عَائِشَةُ فَسَبَّتْهُمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَهْ يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْفُحْشَ وَالتَّفَحُّشَ " . وَزَادَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَإِذَا جَاءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of A'znash with a slight variation of wording. 'A'isha understood their meaning and cursed them and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'A'isha. (do not do that) for Allah does not like the use of harsh words, and it was at this stage that this verse of Allah. the Exalt. ed and Glorious. was revealed:" And when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting with which Allah greets thee not" (Iviii. 8) to the end of the verse.
[1] Al-Mujâdilah 58:8.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2165dIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5387
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ سَيَّارٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ، بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ عَلَى غِلْمَانٍ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ .
Anas b. Malik reported that when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) happened to pass by young boys he would great them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2168aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5391
حَدَّثَنِي عُقْبَةُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ، مَرْزُوقٍ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي زِيَادٌ، أَنَّ ثَابِتًا، مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يُسَلِّمُ الرَّاكِبُ عَلَى الْمَاشِي وَالْمَاشِي عَلَى الْقَاعِدِ وَالْقَلِيلُ عَلَى الْكَثِيرِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
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).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2160In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5374
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَبْدَءُوا الْيَهُودَ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى بِالسَّلاَمِ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمْ أَحَدَهُمْ فِي طَرِيقٍ فَاضْطَرُّوهُ إِلَى أَضْيَقِهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2167aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5389
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِيَحْيَى بْنِ يَحْيَى - قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ إِذَا سَلَّمُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمُ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقُلْ عَلَيْكَ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2164aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5382
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتِ اسْتَأْذَنَ رَهْطٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ . فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ بَلْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّامُ وَاللَّعْنَةُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ " . قَالَتْ أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ مَا قَالُوا قَالَ " قَدْ قُلْتُ وَعَلَيْكُمْ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
A group of Jews came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and sought his audience and said: As-Sam-u-'Alaikum. A'isha said in response: As-Sam-u-'Alaikum (death be upon you) and curse also, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'A'isha, verily Allah loves kindness in every matter. She said: Did you bear what they said? Thereupon he said: Did you not hear that I said (to them): Wa 'Alaikum.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2165aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5384
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُنَاسٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَقَالُوا السَّامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ . قَالَ " وَعَلَيْكُمْ " . قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ قُلْتُ بَلْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّامُ وَالذَّامُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَائِشَةُ لاَ تَكُونِي فَاحِشَةً " . فَقَالَتْ مَا سَمِعْتَ مَا قَالُوا فَقَالَ " أَوَلَيْسَ قَدْ رَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِي قَالُوا قُلْتُ وَعَلَيْكُمْ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
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).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2165cIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5386
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَارِثِ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّعليه وسلم قَالُوا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ يُسَلِّمُونَ عَلَيْنَا فَكَيْفَ نَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ " قُولُوا وَعَلَيْكُمْ " .
Anas Narrated from:
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).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2163bIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5381
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح وَحَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ فَقُولُوا وَعَلَيْكُمْ " .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When the People of the Book offer you salutations, you should say: The same to you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2163aIn-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 26, Hadith 5380
