Chapter: One must not say, “Peace be upon Allah”

In the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections it is narrated from Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “Whenever we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer we used to say, ‘Peace be upon Allah from His servants; peace be upon so-and-so and so-and-so.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, ‘Do not say, Peace be upon Allah, for Allah Himself is al-Salām’ (1).

Relevance of the chapter to the Book of Monotheism: Offering salām to a person means asking that he be kept safe from harms and afflictions. It is therefore impermissible to say ‘Peace be upon Allah,’ for He is the Self-Sufficient One, free from every defect and deficiency. Supplication is directed to Him; it is not made on His behalf. Requests are sought from Him, not for Him. This chapter thus affirms the obligation to declare Allah free of need and imperfection and to describe Him with absolute richness and perfection.

“In the Ṣaḥīḥ” means: in both Ṣaḥīḥ collections.

“We would say, ‘Peace be upon Allah’” refers to the final tashahhud, as mentioned in some narrations of the ḥadīth.

“Do not say, ‘Peace be upon Allah’” is a direct prohibition from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) against extending salām to Allah.

“For Allah Himself is al-Salām” provides the reason for the prohibition: al-Salām is one of His names, and He has no need for anyone to extend salām to Him.