Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Saying salam (greeting of peace) is Sunnah, and responding to it is obligatory (fard). If there are multiple people giving salam, then for them, saying salam is a communal obligation (fard kifayah), meaning if even one of them says salam, the obligation is fulfilled; otherwise, all will be sinful. If all of them say salam, that is better. Similarly, if there are multiple people to respond, then replying to salam is a communal obligation (fard kifayah); if even one person replies, the obligation is fulfilled, otherwise all will be sinful, and for all to reply is better. The minimum form of salam is "as-salamu alaykum," and the better and more virtuous form is "as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh." Likewise, the minimum reply is "wa alaykum as-salam," and the better and more virtuous reply is "wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh." The rider should greet the one walking, so that due to being mounted, he does not develop a sense of superiority and arrogance, but rather adopts humility and modesty. The passerby, as mentioned in the narration of Sahih al-Bukhari, in place of "walking" the word "passing" is used—whether on foot or mounted, since the one coming into a gathering is in the position of the newcomer. Also, the one sitting may feel a sense of danger or fear from the one passing by, especially if the passerby is mounted. Therefore, to remove his fear and apprehension and to express friendliness and affection, the passerby should say salam. It is also possible that the one sitting is engaged in his work, and for him to greet those coming and going would be burdensome; therefore, those coming and going should say salam. It is easier and simpler for the smaller group to greet the larger group, and the larger group has a kind of distinction over the smaller group; thus, the smaller group should greet the larger group.

Hadith Commentary:
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah’s intent is that if two groups meet, then the group with fewer people should initiate the greeting of salam to the group with more people.
A further instruction regarding this is mentioned in another hadith: if one person from the passing group says salam, it suffices on behalf of the entire group.
Similarly, if one of the seated people responds, it is considered as a response on behalf of all.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5210)

Hadith Commentary:
Whoever is riding an animal should initiate the greeting of salam to those who are walking.

The wisdom in this instruction is that the rider apparently possesses a worldly elevation and superiority; therefore, he has been commanded to greet those who are walking first, thereby negating his own superiority. In this manner, it is also an expression of his humility and modesty.

And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:

The narration (athar) of Ibrahim bin Tahman has been connected (mawsul) by Imam Bukhari in *Al-Adab Al-Mufrad*, and it has also been connected by Abu Nu'aym and Al-Bayhaqi. Al-Kirmani made a mistake when he said that Imam Bukhari must have heard this hadith from Ibrahim bin Tahman in the aforementioned manner, and that is why he said "wa qala Ibrahim" ("and Ibrahim said"). Since Imam Bukhari did not live in the era of Ibrahim bin Tahman, what Kirmani has said is incorrect.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The wisdom apparent in these rulings is that the younger should display humility and modesty before elders and should honor and respect them. Likewise, it is obligatory for those who are fewer in number to show respect to those who are greater in number, because the right of the majority is also greater. Furthermore, the one who is passing by should greet those who are sitting.

(2)
The wisdom in this is that the passerby comes to the people, so he is commanded to greet them promptly so that he may inform them of peace and, due to the supplication for peace, people may remain safe from his harm. When those walking are more in number and those sitting are fewer, then, by virtue of being on foot, the responsibility of greeting lies with them, but due to their greater number, the obligation of greeting is lifted from them. In such situations, the ruling is like that of two people who meet each other: whichever of them initiates the greeting is better and more virtuous. (Fath al-Bari: 22/11)
And Allah knows best.

Explanation:
1:
It is understood that in offering greetings (salam), the method and manner mentioned in the hadith will be given consideration, not rank or status. If the situation is the same in form—for example, both are riding or both are walking—then in such a case, while offering salam, regard will be given to who is younger or older.

Takhrij:
[بخاري :6231، 6232، 6234],
[مسلم، السلام : 5646],
[بلوغ المرام : 1242]
[تحفة الاشراف : 275/10، 394]

Vocabulary:
«ليسلم الصغير على الكبير» This phrase is not in Sahih Muslim, therefore it is difficult to call the entire hadith "agreed upon."
«والراكب على الماشي» This phrase is also in Sahih Bukhari besides Muslim. [الاستيذان : 25]

Benefits:

➊ The scholars have explained, according to their own understanding, the wisdoms in the order of initiating the greeting (salam); the real wisdom is with Allah alone, and He alone has complete knowledge of it.

➋ The command for the younger to initiate the greeting is because the elder has a greater right over the younger, as the younger is commanded to honor and show respect to the elder.

➌ The command for the fewer to initiate the greeting is because the greater number has more right over the fewer, and also so that if the greater number greets the fewer or the individual first, there is no self-admiration or arrogance that develops.

➍ The passerby is to greet the one sitting first because he is like the one entering, who is commanded to greet. Also, it is difficult for the one sitting to repeatedly turn to every passerby and greet them, whereas the passerby does not face such difficulty.

➎ The rider is to greet the one walking first because when Allah, the Exalted, has granted him the blessing of riding, it is his right to show humility. If the one walking were commanded to greet the rider first, there would be a risk that arrogance might develop in the rider.

➏ When both parties meeting are equal, both are commanded to initiate the greeting. «أفشوا السلام» "Spread the greeting (salam) among yourselves." Whoever initiates among them is superior. Just as it is said regarding two people who have cut off relations: «وخيرهما الذي يبدأ بالسلام» "The better of the two is the one who initiates the greeting." [متفق عليه]

Jabir radi Allahu anhu says:
«والماشيان أيهما يبدأ بالسلام فهو أفضل»
"Of two people walking, the one who greets first is superior." [صحيح الادب المفرد 983/754]
This hadith is also authentic in the marfu‘ form. [الصحيحه 1146]

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was asked: When two men meet, who should greet first? He said: «أولاهما بالله» "The one who is closer to Allah of the two." [ترمذي عن ابی امامه و قال حسن], and see also [صحيح الترمذي 2167]

➐ If the person who is commanded to greet first does not do so, then the other should greet, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam greatly emphasized spreading the greeting (salam). [بخاري 9335]

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، الاستئذان، باب تسليم القليل علي الكثير، حديث:6231، ومسلم، السلام، باب يسلم الراكب علي الماشي...، حديث:2160.»©Explanation:
➊ In this hadith, the etiquettes of greeting one another with salam are mentioned.
➋ Thus, it is commanded that the younger should greet the elder first. The purpose of this is to honor and respect the elder.
And the one who is arriving is commanded to greet those who are sitting; the wisdom and reason behind this appears to be that there may be a fear of harm or danger from the one who is coming, but when he greets first, it is as if the apprehension of danger is removed.
And the one riding should greet those who are walking, because a person sitting on a mount may become afflicted with a sense of superiority and arrogance; to remove this, it has been commanded that the rider should greet first and express his humility and affection.
Similarly, those who are fewer in number should greet those who are greater in number; in this, there is an indication of the superiority and excellence of abundance over scarcity.
It is as if Islam has taught the people of Islam the preservation of ranks, upon which, masha Allah, this ummah is acting.