170 / WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED CONCERNING THE GREETING OF PEACE

Among Islam’s praiseworthy manners and noble qualities is spreading greetings of peace. The greeting of peace is the greeting of the believers, the hallmark of those who affirm Allah’s oneness, and a means of fostering brotherhood, fellowship, and love among Muslims. It is a blessed and wholesome greeting, as the Lord of the worlds described it when He said: “When you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and wholesome.”1

It is also the greeting of the people of Paradise, with which the noble angels will greet them. When the people of Paradise are led to Paradise in groups and its eight gates are opened for them, its keepers will receive them with this greeting: “Peace be upon you! You have done well, so enter it, remaining there forever.”2 It is also the greeting exchanged by the people of Paradise, as Allah Most High said: “Their greeting therein will be: ‘Peace.’”3 It is the greeting of the angels and the greeting of Adam and his descendants.

In the two Sahih collections, Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah created Adam in his form; he was sixty cubits tall. When He created him, He said: ‘Go and greet that group of angels who are sitting there, and listen to how they greet you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your descendants.’ He said: ‘Peace be upon you.’ They replied: ‘Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy.’ Thus, they added: ‘and Allah’s mercy.’ Everyone who enters Paradise will be in Adam’s form, but human stature has continued to diminish ever since, until the present day.”4