Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 134

The Excellence of Greeting the Acquaintance Repeatedly

باب استحباب إعادة السلام على من تكرر لقاؤه على قرب بأن دخل ثم خرج ثم دخل في الحال، أو حال بينهما شجرة ونحوها

This short chapter answers a small but real question: if you have just greeted someone, should you greet them again when you meet again moments later? The Prophet's practice says yes. Even a brief separation, stepping behind a wall, a tree, or a stone, makes a fresh greeting fitting when you come back into view.

The deeper point is that salam is never wasted or merely formal. Renewing it keeps affection alive between believers and treats every meeting, even a repeated one, as worthy of peace. Notice how naturally the Prophet returned greeting after greeting without ever finding it excessive.

Hadith 859

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported in the Hadith concerning the person who was at fault in performing his Salat (prayer):

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه في حديث المسيء صلاته أنه جاء فصلى، ثم جاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فسلم عليه، فرد عليه السلام، فقال‏:‏ ‏ "‏ارجع فصلِ، فإنك لم تصلِ‏" ‏ فرجع فصلى، ثم جاء فسلم على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، حتى فعل ذلك ثلاث مرات” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded to the greeting and said, "Go back and repeat your Salat because you have not performed the Salat (properly).'' He again performed Salat as he had prayed before and came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded to the greetings (and repeated his words to him). This act of repeating (the Salat and the Salam) was done thrice. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

A man who had prayed incorrectly greeted the Prophet each time he returned, and the Prophet returned the greeting every time across three repetitions. It shows greeting again is fitting even after a very short while.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 859 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 16

Hadith 860

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏إذا لقي أحدكم أخاه، فليسلم عليه، فإن حالت بينهما شجرة، أو جدار، أو حجر، ثم لقيه، فليسلم عليه‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When one of you meets a brother (in Faith) he should greet him. Then if a tree or a wall or a stone intervenes between them and then he meets him again, he should greet him." [Abu Dawud].

In plain words

When you meet a fellow believer, greet him, and if something like a tree, wall, or stone comes between you and you meet again, greet him once more. Renewing the greeting keeps warmth alive between believers.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 860 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 17