|
As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barkatu, | How many people u know who greet others without knowing who the front person is??? Very few. Elders they want the younger people to greet them first. They are right, but if the younger fellow does not greet theh even they don't greet him or remind him. More over they want the youngsters should bend(like a person in the state of rukku) in front of them while they greet. If the younger person doesn't greet them then he'll be a sinner in their eyes. |  |
Let’s start with the meaning of “AS SALAAM ALAIKUM WA REHMATULLAHI WA BARKATU”. What do u think how many people know the meaning? Not much because it is really a very good, an excellent greeting in Islam. If they knew the meaning, they would never have stopped greeting each other. The biggest enemy of a man is his own ego. It is this ego, which stops one man to meet another man, one brother with another brother, a son with his father, a sister with another sister, a friend with another friend. “As Salaam” is one of the beautiful names of Allah Subhanawatalah which means peace. And “As salaam alaikum” means peace be with u. “As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barkatu” means peace be with u and may Allah Subhanawatalah grant u his merci and grant u prosperity. This is not just a greeting like “HI” or “BYE”. This is a prayer you are giving to a person in front of u. It is not like when somebody sees some familiar person and suddenly he express “HI”. No. In Islam greeting has a very big importance. To greets some one is a Sunnah and to reply back is obligatory up on u. When u greet some body u'll receives 10 blessings from Allah Subhanawatalah and who replies back receives 1 blessing. So can u imagine just for greeting some one u r receiving 10 blessings of Allah Subhanawatalah. In one Hadees I read that the companions of Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (Peace and blessings of Allah Subhanawatalah be up on him) had the habit of going to the market just to greet each other without having any work in the market. Every person wished to be the first to greet. In one more Hadees I read that Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (Peace and blessings of Allah Subhanawatalah be up on him) was the first to greet every time to every one be it a child or an elder, every body failes to greet him first. Once when Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) was at his home Bibi Khadijah (R.A) was also with him, Jibrael Alaihi Salaam came there. Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) asked him is there any message from Allah Subhanawatalah? He said yes it is for Bibi Khadijah, Allah Subhanawatalah asked me to convey his salaam to her. Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) was really excited he said to Bibi Khadijah look Allah Subhanawatalah the Almighty has sent his Salaam to u through Jibrael (A.S). Then Bibi Khadijah (R.A) in reply said “As Salaam is Allah Subhanawatalah, Salaam to u Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) and Salaam to u Jibrael (A.S)”. Can u imagine Allah Subhanawatalah sending his salaam to a human being. Of course she was a very pious lady. But she was a human being a slave of Allah SWT. Even u can receive the salaam of Allah Subhanawatalah. How??? In a day there r 5 obligatory prayers. And at second and last sajjdah of every prayer we pray “Attahiyatu…” You know how it became obligatory in our prayers? At the night of Meraj, when Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) went to meet Allah Subhanawatalah, he said to him “Attahiyatu lillahi Wasalawatu Watwayibatu” which means all praises be to Almighty Allah (SWT) to whom belongs everything which is in the heavens and the earth. Then Allah SWT said “As Salaamu Alaika Ya Ayuhan Nabiyu” which means Allah Subhanawatalah greeted the Prophet (PBUH). Then Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) said “As Salaamu Alaina Wa Ala Ibaadil lahi Saaliheen” which means that I accept ur greeting along with those who believe in you and have faith in your oneness. He din't replied as Walaikum As Salaam. He said i accept ur greeting for me and for every person who believes in u. The most important stage of the life of Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam(PBUH), meeting with the creator the ALLAH SUBHANAWA TALAH, there also he remembered his followers. How great he is and how great the creator is, this u can imagine from the above verses. Then Jibrael (A.S) said “Ash hadu Allah ilaha Illallah, Wa Ash Hadu Ana Muhammadan Abduhu Wa Rasool Allah” which mean I bear the witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad SAW (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah SWT. After this it was made obligatory in every prayer to read it. And Allah SWT said who ever is a believer and do not miss even a single prayer and sends salaam to Huzoor Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (PBUH) then even he’ll send salaam to him. Just imagine Allah Subhanawatalah sending his salaam to his slave. The other meaning of the greeting is that may Allah Subhanawatalah protect u from Shaitan and any harm caused by me to u. So just kill your ego and greet every body be it a young person or ur elders and greet completely. Do not greet for style. Like ASAK or W’salaam. No. Allah Subhanawatalah says: "If u r ashamed of me then even i am ashamed of u". May Allah Subhanawatalah bless you all and shower his merci up on all. As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barkatu.
|
Islam 
