Hadith 1602

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " لَا تَبْدَءُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى بِالسَّلَامِ ، وَإِذَا لَقِيتُمْ أَحَدَهُمْ فِي الطَّرِيقِ ، فَاضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلَى أَضْيَقِهِ " ، قَالَ : وَفِي الْبَاب ، عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ، وَأَنَسٍ ، وَأَبِي بَصْرَةَ الْغِفَارِيِّ صَاحِبِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى : هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ، وَمَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ : " لَا تَبْدَءُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى " ، قَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ : إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى : الْكَرَاهِيَةِ ، لِأَنَّهُ يَكُونُ تَعْظِيمًا لَهُمْ ، وَإِنَّمَا أُمِرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ بِتَذْلِيلِهِمْ ، وَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا لَقِيَ أَحَدَهُمْ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَلَا يَتْرُكِ الطَّرِيقَ عَلَيْهِ ، لِأَنَّ فِيهِ تَعْظِيمًا لَهُمْ .
Narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Do not initiate the greeting of peace with the Jews and Christians, and if you meet any of them on the road, force them to the narrowest part of it." © Imam Tirmidhi says:
1- This hadith is hasan sahih.
2- In this chapter, hadiths have also been narrated from Ibn Umar, Anas (may Allah be pleased with them), and Abu Basrah Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him).
3- And the meaning of the hadith is that you should not greet them first (rather, only respond to their greeting).
4- Some people of knowledge say: This is disliked because initiating the greeting would be honoring them, whereas Muslims have been commanded to humiliate them. Similarly, when meeting them on the road, do not give way to them, because that too would be honoring them (which is not correct).
Hadith Reference سنن ترمذي / كتاب السير عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / 1602
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح، الصحيحة (704) ، الإرواء (1271)
Hadith Takhrij «صحیح مسلم/السلام 4 (2167) ، سنن ابی داود/ الأدب 149 (5205) ، ( تحفة الأشراف : 1270) ، ویأتي في الاستئذان برقم 2700) (صحیح)»
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
According to this hadith, it is forbidden (haram) for a Muslim to initiate greeting (salam) to Jews, Christians, Magians, and others. This is the opinion of the majority (jumhur). The meaning of compelling them to the narrow side of the road upon encountering them is to make them feel that they are of a lower status. However, this is not possible in non-Islamic governments; therefore, according to the Imams, in order to avoid evil and tribulation (sharr wa fitnah), one should adopt whatever cautious method is appropriate.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 1602
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: From one hadith, it is understood that one should not initiate greeting (salam) to a disbeliever (kafir), and this is also the view of the majority of jurists (fuqaha). And if one happens to meet them while walking on the road, then out of honor and respect for them, one should not make way for them; rather, make way for oneself. From this, the scholars have deduced that those with corrupt beliefs and misguided people should also not be greeted first with salam. However, if one greets Jews and Christians with the intention of greeting the angels, then that is permissible.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 5661
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
That is, Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims should be compelled to walk on the sides of roads with crowds, while Muslims walk in the middle, so that the dignity and grandeur of Muslims may be manifested. In this way, they (the non-Muslims) will have the opportunity to greet (the Muslims) and to reflect further about the Muslims; perhaps Allah, the Exalted, will open their hearts to the religion of honor and dominance.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2700
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
In this manner, the eminence and exaltation of Islam and the people of Islam is expressed.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 5205