5 – The Book of Salutation (Salām)

131 – Chapter: The excellence of greeting with salām and the command to spread it

Allah the Exalted says, “O you who believe, do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission and greeted their occupants with peace.” (Q 24:27)

He also says, “When you enter houses, greet one another with a salutation from Allah, blessed and good.” (Q 24:61)

And He says, “When you are greeted with a salutation, respond with one better than it, or return it in like manner.” (Q 4:86)

And He says, “Has the story reached you of Abraham’s honored guests? When they entered upon him and said, ‘Peace,’ he replied, ‘Peace.’” (Q 51:24–25)

849 – ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “Which practice in Islam is best?” He replied, “That you provide food and greet with salām those you know and those you do not know.” Agreed upon.

850 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When Allah created Adam ﷺ, He said, ‘Go to that group of angels who are sitting, greet them with salām, and listen to how they answer you, for their reply will be your greeting and the greeting of your descendants.’ So he went and said, ‘Peace be upon you.’ They answered, ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah,’ adding the words ‘and the mercy of Allah.’” Agreed upon.