عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا لَقِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنْ حَالَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا شَجَرَةٌ أَوْ جِدَارٌ أَوْ حَجَرٌ ثُمَّ لَقِيَهُ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ أَيْضًا».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any of you meets his brother, let him greet him with peace. If a tree, a wall, or a rock comes between them and then he meets him, let him greet him with peace again."
Narrated by Abu DāwūdGradeAuthentic
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges the Muslim to greet his fellow Muslim with peace whenever he meets him; even if they are walking together and something separates between them, like a tree, a wall, or a big rock, and then he meets him, he should greet him with peace once again.
Benefits
- It is recommended to spread the greeting of peace and repeat it whenever there is a change in state.
- The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was extremely keen on spreading the Sunnah of exchanging the greeting of peace excessively, given the affection and familiarity that it fosters among Muslims.
- The greeting of peace is to say: "As-salāmu ‘alaykum" (peace be upon you) or "As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh" (may Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you), apart from the handshaking that takes place upon meeting for the first time.
- The greeting of peace is a form of supplication, and Muslims do need to supplicate for each other even if this is done repeatedly.
Reference
سنن أبي داود (7/ 494) (5200). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص520). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 138). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 667). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (4/ 410).