Offering the Greeting of Peace

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Offering the greeting of peace is voluntary, but answering it is obligatory. ’”

Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “If one begins speaking before offering the greeting of peace, do not speak to him.”

Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A person who is closer to Allah and His Messenger is the one who initiates the offering of the greeting of peace.’”

“Salman, May Allah grant him favors, would say, ‘Offer the greeting of peace from Allah openly; the unjust do not receive the greeting of peace from Allah.’”

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves offering the greeting of peace openly, loud and clearly.”

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Really stingy is one who is stingy in offering the greeting of peace.’”

“When anyone of you offers the greeting of peace he should say it loud and clear so he will not complain that no one answered his greeting of peace. He may have offered, but no one may have heard it and when any one of you answers the greeting he should say it loud and clear so that the one offering it will not say, ‘I offered them the greeting of peace but no one answered.’ “The Imam then said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘If you do not become angry you will not be made angry, offer the greeting of peace loud and openly, speak nicely, perform prayer at night when people are sleeping and you will enter paradise in peace.’ Then he read the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: ‘. . . the Peace, the Protector, the Watchful Guardian. . . .’” ( 59 : 23 )

“The initiator of the offering of the greeting of peace is closer to Allah and His Messenger.”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If one offering the greeting of peace says, “(I offer) you to be in peace,” it is equal to ten good deeds. Saying, ‘(I offer) you to be in peace, and May Allah grant you favors,’ is equal to twenty good deeds. Saying, ‘(I offer) you to be in peace, and May Allah grant you favors and blessings,’ is equal to thirty good deeds.’”

“In three cases the ‘greeting’ is answered in a plural case even if there is only one person: for one’s sneezing, it is said, ‘May Allah grant you (plural) favor.’ when a man offers the ‘greeting of peace’ saying, ‘(I offer you to) be in peace’, the answer is ‘(I offer you to) be in peace,’ and when a man pleads before Allah for good health for another man, he should say, ‘May Allah grant you (plural) good health, even if there is only one person; there are others with him (the guarding angels).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) would say, ‘Three kinds of people do not offer greetings: one walking in funeral procession, one walking to attend Friday prayer and in the bathing places.’”

“It is of humility to offer the greeting of peace to whomever you meet.”

“Once Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) passed by a people and offered them the greeting of peace and they answered, ‘(We offer) you peace, May Allah grant you favors, blessings, forgiveness and His pleasure.’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said to them, ‘Do not say to us more than what the angels said to Ibrahim. They said, ‘May Allah grant you favors and blessings, O the people of the house’ (of the Holy Prophet).”’

“The completion of greetings of peace for one at home is to shake hands and for one on a journey it is to hold him in one’s arms.”

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘It is undesirable for a man to say, “May Allah keep you living,” then remain silent without offering the greeting of peace thereafter.’”