47/58. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3301 — Greeting with People of the Book
Regarding Surat Al-Mujadalah
Hadith About Replying to As-Samu Alaikum
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3301
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3301
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ يَهُودِيًّا، أَتَى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا قَالَ هَذَا " . قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ سَلَّمَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " لاَ وَلَكِنَّهُ قَالَ كَذَا وَكَذَا رُدُّوهُ عَلَىَّ " . فَرَدُّوهُ قَالَ " قُلْتَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ " . قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقُولُوا عَلَيْكَ " . قَالَ " عَلَيْكَ مَا قُلْتَ " . قَالَ : (وإِذَا جَاءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ ) . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A Jew Came To The Prophet Of Allah And His Companions And Said: “As-Samu Alaikum (Death Be Upon You).” So The People Replied To Him. The Prophet Of Allah Said: “Do You Know What This Person Said?” They Said: “Allah And His Messenger Know Better – He Said The Salam – O Allah’S Prophet.” He Said: “No, Rather He Said Like This And That. Bring Him Back For Me.”So They Brought Him Back And He Said: “Did You Say As-Samu Alaikum? He Said: “Yes.” So With That Allah’S Prophet Said: “When One Of The People Of The Book Gives You The Salam, Then Say: “Alaika Ma Qulta (Whatever You Said To You Too).” He Said: ‘And When They Come To You, They Greet You With A Greeting Wherewith Allah Greets You Not.’
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3301In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 353English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3301
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3301
This hadith teaches greeting etiquette when a harmful greeting is hidden under words that sound like salam. A Jewish man said “As-Samu Alaikum,” meaning death be upon you, and some people thought he had given a normal greeting. The Prophet clarified what was said and asked that the man be brought back. When the man admitted it, the Prophet taught a simple response: say “Alaika” or “Whatever you said, to you too.” The core lesson is calm speech, careful listening, and not answering harm with uncontrolled anger. The hadith about replying to People of the Book shows that Muslims should be alert, fair, and measured in words.
What we learn from this hadith
- Listen carefully before replying to a greeting or statement.
- A harmful greeting should be answered with calm and controlled words.
- The Prophet corrected misunderstanding by asking and confirming what was said.
- A believer should not rush into harsh speech when a simple answer is enough.
