Opening the Book of Greetings, this chapter celebrates salam, the greeting of peace, and the command to spread it widely. To offer As-Salamu Alaikum to those we know and those we do not is named among the best deeds in Islam, a small phrase that seeds peace and love throughout a community.
Notice how greeting is never treated as mere social politeness. It is woven into faith itself, into the very creation of Adam, into the path to Paradise, and into the daily habit of the righteous. The central Arabic idea is ifsha as-salam, making the greeting of peace public and abundant, so that warmth between believers becomes the ordinary air they breathe.
Hadith 844
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما أن رجلا سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أي الإسلام خير؟ قال: "تطعم الطعام، وتقرأ السلام على من عرفت ومن لم تعرف" . ((متفق عليه)).
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Which act in Islam is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "To give food, and to greet everyone, whether you know or you do not." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Asked which act in Islam is best, the Prophet named feeding others and greeting everyone, whether you know them or not. Generosity and spreading peace are placed among the finest deeds.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 844 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 1
Hadith 845
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لما خلق الله تعالى آدم عليه السلام قال: اذهب فسلم على أولئك -نفر من الملائكة جلوس- فاستمع ما يحيونك، فإنه تحيتك وتحية ذريتك. فقال: السلام عليكم فقالوا: السلام عليك ورحمة الله، فزادوه: ورحمة الله" ((متفق عليه)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Allah created Adam (ﷺ), He said to him: 'Go and greet that company of angels who are sitting there - and then listen to what they are going to say in reply to your greetings because that will be your greeting and your off-spring's.' Adam (ﷺ) said to the angels: 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum (May peace be upon you).' They replied: 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah (May peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah).' Thus adding in reply to him: 'wa Rahmatullah (and the Mercy of Allah)' to his greeting." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When Adam was created he was told to greet the angels with salam, and their reply became the greeting passed down to him and his descendants. It roots the greeting of peace in the very beginning of humankind.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 845 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 2
Hadith 846
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن أبي عمارة البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما قال: أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بسبع: بعيادة المريض، واتباع الجنائز، وتشميت العاطس، ونصر الضعيف، وعون المظلوم، وإفشاء السلام وإبرار المقسم. ((متفق عليه هذا لفظ إحدى روايات البخاري)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to do seven things: to visit the sick, to follow the funeral (of a dead believer), to invoke the Mercy of Allah upon one who sneezes (i.e., by saying to him: Yarhamuk- Allah), to support the weak, to help the oppressed, to promote the greeting of 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum', and to help those who swear to do something to keep their oaths. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet commanded seven good deeds, including visiting the sick, attending funerals, replying to the sneezer, helping the weak and oppressed, and spreading the greeting of peace. These are simple acts that bind a community together.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 846 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 3
Hadith 847
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لا تدخلوا الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم؟ أفشوا السلام بينكم" ((رواه مسلم )).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my life! You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Promote greetings amongst yourselves." [Muslim].
In plain words
You will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not believe until you love one another; spreading greetings of peace is the way to grow that love. A small habit that builds real affection among believers.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 847 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 4
Hadith 848
'Abdullah bin Salam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي يوسف عبد الله بن سلام رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "يا أيها الناس أفشوا السلام، وأطعموا الطعام، وصلوا الأرحام وصلوا والناس نيام، تدخلوا الجنة بسلام" ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح)).
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "O people, exchange greetings of peace (i.e., say: As-Salamu 'Alaikum to one another), feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace." [At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan Sahih].
In plain words
Ibn Umar greeted everyone he passed in the market, rich or poor, seller or beggar, telling his companion this was the whole purpose of going. It shows the greeting of peace offered freely to all, without rank.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 848 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 5
Hadith 849
At-Tufail bin Ubayy bin Ka'b (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن الطفيل بن أبي بن كعب أنه كان يأتي عبد الله بن عمر، فيغدو معه إلى السوق، قال: فإذا غدونا إلى السوق، لم يمر عبد الله على سقاط ولا صاحب بيعة، ولا مسكين، ولا أحد إلا سلم عليه، قال الطفيل، فجئت عبد الله بن عمر يومًا، فاستتبعني إلى السوق فقلت له: ما تصنع بالسوق، وأنت لا تقف على البيع ولا تسأل عن السلع، ولا تسوم بها، ولا تجلس في مجالس السوق؟ وأقول: اجلس بنا هاهنا نتحدث، فقال يا أبا بطن- وكان الطفيل ذا بطن- إنما نغدو من أجل السلام فنسلم على من لقيناه. ((رواه مالك في الموطأ بإسناد صحيح)).
I used to visit 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) in the morning and accompany him to the market. 'Abdullah offered greetings of peace to every one he met on the way, be they sellers of petty goods, traders or poor people. One day when I came to him, he asked me to accompany him to the market. I said to him: "What is the point of your going to the market when you do not sell, nor ask about articles, nor offer a price for them, nor sit down with any company of people. Let us sit down here and talk." He replied: "O Abu Batn (father of a belly) - Tufail had a large belly - we go to the market to greet everyone we meet." [Malik, with a sound chain].
In plain words
Exchange greetings of peace, feed people, keep family ties, and pray at night while others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace. A handful of warm habits that lead to a peaceful end.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 849 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 6