In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) it is related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,

“I swear by the one in whose hand lies my soul that you will not enter paradise until you believe. And you shall not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something, that if you practice it you will love another? Spread the (Salaam) Islamic greeting amongst yourselves.”

I heard an interesting lecture by Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki which reminded me of the importance of spreading Salaam. The Islamic greeting was one of the first orders given to Prophet Adam (A.S) and is a small act of faith many of us may neglect. Many of us study and work with both, Muslims and non-Muslims and I believe it is important to display our faith and its teachings no matter who we associate with.

When in the presence of Muslims, its important to establish the Salaam (Islamic Greeting) as a priority, thereafter you can use any greeting you see fit to address the rest of the group. There’s nothing wrong in saying G’day or Hi, but when addressing fellow Muslims, it is a duty upon us to greet them respectfully and appropriately. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) always established the Salaam first and thereafter would say “An’im sabaahan” or “An’imu sabaahan”  which is the Arabic equivalent of Good Morning.

So don’t be ashamed of spreading Salaam, greet those whom you know and those who you may not know and educate the people around you so they may also learn from the teachings of Islam.

It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah b. ‘Amr that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) which of the merits (is superior) in Islam. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: That you provide food and extend greetings to one whom you know or do not know.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum – السلام عليكم
Peace be upon you…