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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتاب السلام
Book of Greeting (Salam)
بَابُ يُسَلِّمُ الصَّغِيرُ عَلَى الْكَبِيرِ
Chapter: Young greets the elder
Al-Adab al-Mufrad 1001 — Young greets the elder
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرٍو قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ”يُسَلِّمُ الصَّغِيرُ عَلَى الْكَبِيرِ، وَالْمَاشِي عَلَى الْقَاعِدِ، وَالْقَلِيلُ عَلَى الْكَثِيرِ.“
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The younger should greet the elder, the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting, and the smaller group should greet the larger group."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي زِيَادٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ قَالَ: كَانَ خَارِجَةُ يَكْتُبُ عَلَى كِتَابِ زَيْدٍ إِذَا سَلَّمَ، قَالَ: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ وَمَغْفِرَتُهُ، وَطَيِّبُ صَلَوَاتِهِ.
It is narrated from Abu al-Zinad (may Allah have mercy on him) that when Kharijah bin Zaid bin Thabit wrote greetings, he would write according to the script of Sayyiduna Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him): «السلام عليك يا أمير المومنین» ...... O Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah, His forgiveness, and pure salutations.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ From this narration, another etiquette of greeting (salam) is learned: that the younger ones should initiate the greeting (salam) to the elders. This is because honoring and respecting elders is obligatory. Along with age, this also indicates consideration for rank, position, and scholarly status.
➋ The scholars have written that while passing through a crowd or marketplace, it is not necessary to greet every individual, because doing so is not possible. (Fadlullah al-Samad)
➊ From this narration, another etiquette of greeting (salam) is learned: that the younger ones should initiate the greeting (salam) to the elders. This is because honoring and respecting elders is obligatory. Along with age, this also indicates consideration for rank, position, and scholarly status.
➋ The scholars have written that while passing through a crowd or marketplace, it is not necessary to greet every individual, because doing so is not possible. (Fadlullah al-Samad)
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 1001
