In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Mundhiri recorded the chapter in his book Inspiring Hope and Inciting Fear:
الترغيب في إفشاء السلام
Inspiration to spread peace.
Source: al-Targhīb wal-Tarhīb 3/424
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: A man asked the Prophet, “Which Islam is best?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ
To feed the hungry and to greet with peace those you know and those you do not know.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 28, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Ammar ibn Yasir, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ جَمَعَهُنَّ جَمَعَ الْإِيمَانَ الْإِنْصَافُ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَالْإِنْفَاقُ مِنَ الْإِقْتَارِ وَبَذْلُ السَّلَامِ لِلْعَالَمِ
Whoever has three qualities has completed the faith: a sense of fairness in yourself, spending in charity despite difficult circumstances, and offering peace to the world.
Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 30440, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لا تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُسْلِمُوا وَلا تُسْلِمُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا وَأَفْشُوا السَّلامَ تَحَابُّوا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْبُغْضَةَ فَإِنَّهَا هِيَ الْحَالِقَةُ لا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ تَحْلِقُ الشَّعْرَ وَلَكِنْ تَحْلِقُ الدِّينَ
By the one in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you submit to Allah and you will not submit until you love one another. Spread peace and you will love one another. Beware of hatred for it is the razor. I do not say that it shaves hair, but rather it shaves away the religion.
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad lil-Bukhārī 260, Grade: Hasan
Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
دَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ دَاءُ الأُمَمِ قَبْلَكُمْ الحَسَدُ وَالبَغْضَاءُ هِيَ الحَالِقَةُ لاَ أَقُولُ تَحْلِقُ الشَّعَرَ وَلَكِنْ تَحْلِقُ الدِّينَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ تَدْخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَفَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا يُثَبِّتُ ذَلِكَ لَكُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ بَيْنَكُمْ
Lurking towards you are the diseases of the nations before you. Envy and hatred are the razor. I do not say it shaves hair, but rather it shaves the religion. By the one in whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you have faith and you will not have faith until you love each other. Shall I tell you what can affirm that for you? Spread peace between yourselves.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2510, Grade: Sahih
Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ تَسْلَمُوا
Spread peace and you will receive peace.
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad lil-Bukhārī 787, Grade: Hasan
Abdullah ibn Salaam reported: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina, the people rushed toward him and it was said, “The Messenger of Allah has come!” I came along with the people to see him and when I looked at the face of the Prophet, I realized that his face was not the face of a liar. The first thing the Prophet said was this:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَصَلُّوا وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ
O people, spread peace, feed the hungry, and pray at night when people are sleeping and you will enter Paradise in peace.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2485, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اعْبُدُوا الرَّحْمَنَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَأَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ
Worship the Most Merciful, feed the poor, and spread peace. You will enter Paradise in peace.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1855, Grade: Sahih
Abu Shurayh reported: He said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something that will guarantee Paradise for me.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
طِيبُ الْكَلامِ وَبَذْلُ السَّلامِ وَإِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ
Speak kind words, offer peace, and feed the hungry.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 509, Grade: Jayyid
Hani’ ibn Yazid reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ الْمَغْفِرَةِ بَذْلُ السَّلامِ وَحُسْنُ الْكَلامِ
Verily, among the deeds that must result in forgiveness are offering peace and good words.
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr lil-Ṭabarānī 22/180, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ رَدُّ السَّلَامِ وَعِيَادَةُ الْمَرِيضِ وَاتِّبَاعُ الْجَنَائِزِ وَإِجَابَةُ الدَّعْوَةِ وَتَشْمِيتُ الْعَاطِسِ
A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim: to greet him with peace when he is met, to answer his invitation when invited, to advise him when he seeks counsel, to bless him when he sneezes and praises Allah, to visit him when he is sick, and to follow his funeral when he dies.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2162, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet said:
وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ
When he seeks your advice, you counsel him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2162, Grade: Sahih
Abu Umamah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِاللَّهِ مَنْ بَدَأَهُمْ بِالسَّلَامِ
Verily, the best people to Allah are those who are first to greet with peace.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5197, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يُسَلِّمُ الرَّاكِبُ عَلَى الْمَاشِي وَالْمَاشِي عَلَى الْقَاعِدِ وَالْقَلِيلُ عَلَى الْكَثِيرِ
The rider should greet with peace those who are walking, those who are walking should greet those who are sitting, and a small group should greet a larger group.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6232, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ السَّلَامَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّهِ وَضَعَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَفْشُوهُ فِيكُمْ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَضْلُ دَرَجَةٍ لِأَنَّهُ ذَكَّرَهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهِ رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْ وَأَطْيَبُ يعني الملائكة
Verily, peace is among the names of Allah that He has placed on the earth, so spread it between yourselves. If a man greets people with peace and they answer him, he is favored by a degree over them as he has reminded them. If they do not answer him, he is answered by the angels who are better and purer than them.
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr lil-Ṭabarānī 10391, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا لَقِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ حَالَتْ بَيْنَهُمَا شَجَرَةٌ أَوْ جِدَارٌ أَوْ حَجَرٌ ثُمَّ لَقِيَهُ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ أَيْضًا
When one of you meets his brother, let him greet him with peace. If they are separated by a tree, a wall, or a stone, and he meets him again, let him greet him with peace again.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5200, Grade: Sahih
Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
كُنَّا إِذَا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَتُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَنَا الشَّجَرَةُ فَإِذَا الْتَقَيْنَا يُسَلِّمُ بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ
We would be with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and if we were separated by a tree and we met again, we would greet each other with peace again.
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 7987, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا انْتَهَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى الْمَجْلِسِ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَقُومَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ فَلَيْسَتْ الْأُولَى بِأَحَقَّ مِنْ الْآخِرَةِ
When one of you arrives in a gathering, let him greet them with peace. When he intends to leave, let him leave them with peace. The first greeting is not more worthy than the last.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5208, Grade: Sahih
Mu’adh ibn Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
حَقٌّ عَلَى مَنْ قَامَ عَلَى مَجْلِسٍ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَحَقٌّ عَلَى مَنْ قَامَ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ
It is a duty upon one arriving at a gathering to offer greetings of peace to them. It is a duty upon one leaving a gathering to offer salutations of peace to them.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 15615, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi
‘Imran ibn Husayn reported: A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying, “Peace be upon you.” The Prophet said:
عَشْرٌ
Ten good deeds.
Then, another man came to the Prophet, saying, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.” The Prophet said:
عِشْرُونَ
Twenty good deeds.
Then, another man came to the Prophet, saying, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and his blessings.” The Prophet said:
ثَلَاثُونَ
Thirty good deeds.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2689, Grade: Sahih
Sahl ibn Hunayf reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ قَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ كُتِبَ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ وَمَنْ قَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ كُتِبَ لَهُ عِشْرُونَ حَسَنَةً وَمَنْ قَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ كُتِبَ لَهُ ثَلَاثُونَ حَسَنَةً
Whoever greets with peace, ten goods are recorded for him. Whoever greets with peace and the mercy of Allah, twenty good deeds are recorded for him. Whoever greets with peace, the mercy of Allah, and his blessings, thirty good deeds are recorded for him.
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr lil-Ṭabarānī 5563, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi
Abu Huraira reported: A man passed by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was sitting in a gathering. The man said, “Peace be upon you.” The Prophet said:
عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ
Ten good deeds.
Another man passed by and he said, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.” The Prophet said:
عِشْرُونَ حَسَنَةً
Twenty good deeds.
Another man passed by and he said, “Peace be upon you, the mercy of Allah, and his blessings.” The Prophet said:
ثَلاثُونَ حَسَنَةً
Thirty good deeds.
A man stood up to leave the gathering and he did not offer salutations of peace. The Prophet said:
مَا أَوْشَكَ مَا نَسِيَ صَاحِبُكُمْ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَجْلِسَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ فَإِنْ بَدَا لَهُ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ فَلْيَجْلِسْ وَإِذَا قَامَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ مَا الأُولَى بِأَحَقَّ مِنَ الآخِرَةِ
How quickly your companion forgets! If one of you comes to a gathering, let him greet them with peace. If there is room for him to sit, let him sit. If he stands to leave, let him offer salutations of peace. The former duty is no different than the latter.
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad lil-Bukhārī 986, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ أَعْجَزَ النَّاسِ مَنْ عَجَزَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَإِنَّ أَبْخَلَ النَّاسِ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِالسَّلامِ
Verily, the most helpless of people are those unable to supplicate. The most miserly of people are those who are miserly with the greeting of peace.
Grade: Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 8767, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Mughafal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ أَسْرَقَ النَّاسِ مَنْ سَرَقَ صَلاتَهُ
Verily, the worst thieves among people are those who steal from their prayers.
It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, how do they steal from their prayers?” The Prophet said:
لا يُتِمُّ رُكُوعَهَا وَلا سُجُودَهَا وَأَبْخَلُ النَّاسِ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِالسَّلامِ
They do not complete its bowing or its prostration. The most miserly of people are those who are miserly with the greeting of peace.
Source: al-Muʻjam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 3392, Grade: Sahih
Jabir reported: A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “Indeed, I share the wall of a cloister with someone who bothers me and makes things difficult for me.” The Prophet sent for the man and he said:
بِعْنِي عَذْقَكَ الَّذِي فِي حَائِطِ فُلَانٍ
Sell me your cloister that is on the wall of your neighbor.
The man said no. The Prophet said:
فَهَبْهُ لِي
Then give it to me.
The man said no. The Prophet said:
فَبِعْنِيهِ بِعَذْقٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ
Then buy it from me for a cloister in Paradise.
The men said no. The Prophet said:
مَا رَأَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ أَبْخَلُ مِنْكَ إِلَّا الَّذِي يَبْخَلُ بِالسَّلَامِ
I have not seen anyone more miserly than you, except for those who are miserly with the greeting of peace.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 14517, Grade: Hasan
Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَتَمَثَّلَ لَهُ الرِّجَالُ قِيَامًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنْ النَّارِ
Whoever is pleased to be received by men standing, let him take his seat in the Hellfire.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2755, Grade: Hasan
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
