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Spreading Salams: A Source of Love among \r\n Muslims
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) has taught Muslims the most unique \r\n and beautiful method of greeting each other: \"By \r\n Him in Whose Hand is my life, you shall not enter paradise until you \r\n believe. And you will not believe until you love each other. And, shall \r\n I not lead you to something, that if you did, you would begin to love \r\n each other? Spread the greeting of Salam among yourselves!\" \r\n
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Therefore, if someone greets you, \"As-Salamu Alaykum\" (peace \r\n be with you), either you respond with similar words, \"Wa-Alaykum \r\n as-Salam\" (peace be with you too), or with something more, \"Wa-Alaykum \r\n as-Salam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakatuh\" (peace, and the Mercy of \r\n Allah, and His Blessings be upon you). Hassan (may Allah be pleased \r\n with him) said, \"While initiating the Salam is strongly recommended, \r\n its reply is obligatory (wajib).\"
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Imam al-Shafi reported that Abdullah ibn Umar (a well-known companion \r\n of the Prophet) used to sometimes visit the market place with no intention \r\n other than to say Salam to people there.
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Majid Al-Daryabadi quotes a British woman, fascinated by this unique \r\n tradition of extending Salams among Muslims: \"these gentle words \r\n of greeting each other as they pass, is a music to the ear. It is amusing \r\n to watch the dexterity with which two friends will sustain a competition \r\n in greeting - each endeavoring to outdo the other in compliments... \r\n master and the servant, the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlettered, \r\n great each other with the same dignity on both sides, leading to no \r\n loss of self-respect to either.\"
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Compiled From:
\r\n \"Tafsir Ishraq Al-Ma'ani\", Sayyid Iqbal Zaheer, Vol II
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