Page 181 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

ADNAN OKTAR

Greetings
In the Qur’an the importance of greetings is stated in the fol-
lowing way:

When you are greeted with a greeting, return the
greeting or improve upon it. Allah takes account of
everything. (Surat an-Nisa’, 86)

In other words, a believer should respond to a greeting with
a more beautiful or at least equal to the one given:
A man asked the Prophet: “What Islamic traits are the
best?” He replied: “Feed the people, and greet those
whom you know and those whom you do not know.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 74, Number 253k)
“One who brings these things together in his person will
have gathered his faith together: not to abandon justice,
even if it were against his own self; to greet everyone; and
to give charity, even though he is poor.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Greeting everyone is a manifestation of humility, for the per-
son who greets shows the one being greeted that he is not
proud. The person greeted is, as indicated in the Qur’an, to
display an example of humility by responding with a more
beautiful greeting.
When the Prophet (saas) approached a door of a house, he
would not turn his face directly toward the door, but would
draw to one side and say twice: “As-salaamu alaykum” (Abu
Dawud). In this way, he would give those inside enough time
to get themselves and their house ready to receive him. After
giving his greeting, he would wait to be invited inside.
He accepted those greetings that were sent to him and
responded by saying “wa alaikum al-salaam.” For those who
were not present, he would send his greetings to them

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