21/41. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1603 — Replying to Harmful Salam
What Has Been Related About Greeting The People Of The Book With Salam
Hadith About Replying to As-Samu Alaikum
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1603
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1603
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقُلْ عَلَيْكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Indeed When A Jew Gives Salam To One Of You, Then He Is Only Saying: 'As-Samu 'Alaikum' (Death Be Upon You) So Say: "Alaik (And Upon You).'" [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1603In-book reference : Book 21, Hadith 66English translation : Vol. 3, Book 19, Hadith 1603
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1603
This hadith about replying to as-samu alaikum explains a specific situation. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that when a Jew gives salam to one of you, he may only be saying “As-samu ‘alaikum,” meaning death be upon you. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught the reply: “Alaik,” meaning “and upon you.” The lesson is measured speech. The answer is not long, angry, or abusive. It simply returns the wording without adding more. The narration focuses on a harmful form of greeting and a controlled response. People searching for this hadith often look for the wording “as-samu alaikum,” the reply to non-Muslim salam, and the Prophet’s guidance on responding to a hostile greeting.
What we learn from this hadith
- When speech is harmful, the response can be brief and controlled.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught a direct reply: “Alaik.”
- The narration warns against being careless with the meaning of words.
