as human beings, just as Gabriel once came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the likeness of Dihyah al-Kalbi, and another time in the guise of a stranger on whom no sign of travel could be seen, unknown to the Companions, wearing brilliantly white garments and with jet-black hair. He sat before the Prophet ﷺ and questioned him about Islam, faith, excellence, the Hour, and its portents.
Among the benefits of this ḥadīth:
-
The Sunnah when offering the greeting is to say “as-salāmu ʿalayka” (peace be upon you) if the person addressed is one, and “as-salāmu ʿalaykum” (peace be upon you all) if they are several, for the singular is addressed with singular wording and the plural with plural wording.
-
The greeting of peace was taught by the angels at Allah’s command, for He said: “It is your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.” A difficulty arises, however, from their reply, “as-salāmu ʿalayka wa-raḥmatullāh” (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), because the well-known form for returning the greeting is to place the predicate first and say “ʿalayka as-salām.” The answer is that either they were instructing him in the initial greeting, or the revealed law later prescribed the contrary order—that is, placing the predicate first.
-
It is preferable, when returning the greeting, to add the words “and the mercy of Allah,” because the angels added them, and because Allah, Exalted is He, says: “When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better,” beginning with that which is better, “or return it in like manner” if you do not respond with something better.