Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 137

A man sayinig salam to his wife or a mahram woman or non-mahrmam woman or women not fearing tribulation by them and giving them salam with this condition

باب سلام الرجل على زوجته والمرأة من محارمه وعلى أجنبية وأجنبيات لا يخاف الفتنة بهن وسلامهن بهذا الشرط

This chapter gathers narrations showing that salam is exchanged with women, with a wife, with elderly women, and with groups of women, so long as it stays within the bounds of decency and there is no fear of temptation. The greeting of peace is a thread of community that includes everyone, not a privilege of one gender over another.

Across these reports notice the tone of ordinary, wholesome life: a meal shared after Friday prayer, a daughter shielding her father as he bathes, a passing greeting to a gathering. The Prophetic model is warm and dignified at once. The finer rulings on who and how belong to scholars; what we take here is the spirit of unforced, modest goodwill.

Hadith 863

Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

عن سهل بن سعد رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كانت فينا امرأة -وفي رواية‏:‏ كانت لنا عجوز- تأخذ من أصول السلق فتطرحه في القدر، وتكركر حبات من شعير، فإذا صلينا الجمعة، وانصرفنا، نُسلم عليها، فتقدمه إلينا‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه البخاري‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

There was a woman (in another narration; an old woman) among us who would put beet root in a pot and add to it some ground barley. She used to cook them together. On returning from the Friday prayer, we would greet her and she would offer it to us. [Al-Bukhari].

In plain words

After Friday prayer the Companions would greet a woman among them who prepared food, and she would offer it to them. It pictures ordinary, wholesome exchange of greetings and hospitality.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 863 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 20

Hadith 864

Umm Hani (May Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of Abu Talib reported:

وعن أم هانئ فاختة بنت أبي طالب رضي الله عنه قالت‏:‏ أتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الفتح وهو يغتسل، وفاطمة تستره بثوب، فسلمت، وذكرت الحديث” ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He was taking a bath and Fatimah was screening him with a cloth. I greeted him. And she mentioned the rest of the Hadith. [Muslim].

In plain words

Umm Hani came to the Prophet while he was bathing behind a screen held by Fatimah, and she greeted him. A glimpse of a respectful, modest greeting within the family.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 864 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 21

Hadith 865

Asma bint Yazid (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

وعن أسماء بنت يزيد رضي الله عنه قالت‏:‏ مر علينا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في نسوة فسلم علينا‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود، والترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن، وهذا لفظ أبي داود)) ولفظ الترمذي‏:‏ أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مر في المسجد يومًا، وعصبة من النساء قعود، فألوى بيده بالتسليم‏‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by us when we were with a party of women, and he greeted us with salam. [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi who classified it as Hasan]. This is the wording of Abu Dawud. In At-Tirmidhi: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed through the Masjid one day, and a group of women were sitting, so he motioned his hand with the salam.

In plain words

The Prophet passed a group of women and gave them the greeting of peace, in one account motioning with his hand. It shows greeting women warmly and appropriately.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 865 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 22