upon him.

Yet some people do spend on their families, but they are unaware that this very spending draws them closer to Allah. If a beggar were to come to one of them and he handed the man a single riyal, he would immediately feel that he had earned Allah’s pleasure through that charity; yet the obligatory charity owed to one’s family is better and carries a greater reward. Accordingly, when you provide food for your household, that is one of the finest expressions of Islam.

The ḥadith then says, “and you recite the salām,” meaning that you say, “Peace be upon you.” This is called “reciting” or “casting” the greeting, and it should be offered to those you know and those you do not. Let your salām not be restricted to acquaintances; let it be a greeting that seeks reward and fosters affection, for a Muslim is rewarded for his salām and, through it, hearts are brought together. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “By Allah, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salām among yourselves.”

Whoever limits his salām to personal acquaintances will miss out on much good, for he may pass by dozens of people and recognise only one of them. But the person who offers salām for the sake of reward and affection greets everyone he meets, whether he knows them or not—except when the one he encounters is a disbeliever, in which case he should not initiate salām, because the Prophet