The Book of Peace
Commands Regarding Showing Mercy to Animals
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
بينما رجل يمشي بطريق اشتد عليه العطش فوجد بئرا فنزل فيها فشرب ثم خرج فإذا كلب يلهث يأكل الثرى من العطش، فقال الرجل: لقد بلغ هذا الكلب من العطش مثل الذى كان بلغ مني، فنزل البئر فملأ خفه ماء ثم أمسكه بفيه حتى رقي فسقى الكلب فشكر الله له فغفر له
A man was walking and when he became very thirsty, he found a well and went down into it and drank water. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and licking the wet ground due to thirst. The man said to himself: This dog is suffering from thirst just as I was. So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it in his mouth, climbed up, and gave the dog water to drink. Allah appreciated his action and forgave him.
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Will we be rewarded for serving animals?”
He (peace be upon him) said:
في كل كبد رطبة أجر
There is reward and recompense for serving every living being.
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
دخلت امرأة النار فى هرة ربطتها فلم تطعمها ولم تدعها تأكل من خشاش الأرض
A woman went to Hell because of a cat; she had tied it up and neither fed it nor let it free to eat from the insects of the earth.
③ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
قرصت نملة نبيا فأمر بقرية النمل فأحرقت فأوحى الله إليه أن قرصتك نملة أحرقت أمة من الأمم
A prophet was bitten by an ant, so he ordered the entire colony to be burned, and they were burned. Then Allah revealed to him: An ant bit you, and you burned a whole nation!
In a narration of Nasai:
فإنهن يسبحن
They used to glorify (Allah).
Instructions Regarding Sending Salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ما من أحد يسلم على إلا رد الله تبارك وتعالى على روحي حتى أرد عليه السلام
When a Muslim sends salutations upon me, Allah the Exalted returns my soul to me so that I may respond to his salutation.
Instructions Regarding Salutations
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إذا انتهى أحدكم إلى مجلس فليسلم فإذا بدا له أن يجلس فليجلس ثم إذا قام فليسلم فليست الأولى بأحق من الثانية
When any of you enters a gathering, he should greet with Salam; when he is asked to sit, he should sit; then when he stands up, he should greet with Salam again. The first Salam is not more deserving than the second.
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
إذا لقي أحدكم أخاه فليسلم عليه فإن حالت بينهما شجرة أو جدار أو حجر ثم لقيه فليسلم عليه أيضا
When any of you meets his (Muslim) brother, he should greet with Salam; if a tree, wall, or stone comes between them and then they meet again, he should still greet with Salam.
③ Sayyiduna Anas (RA) reports that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to me:
يا بني إذا دخلت على أهلك فسلم يكن سلامك بركة عليك وعلى أهل بيتك
O child! When you go to your family, greet with Salam; your Salam will be a source of blessing for you and your family.
④ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (RA) that when he passed by children, they greeted him with Salam, and he said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to do the same.
⑤ Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (RA) reports that it was asked from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): When two people meet, who among them should greet first? He (PBUH) said:
أولاهما بالله
The one who is closer to Allah.
⑥ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
يسلم الراكب على الماشي، والماشي على القاعد، والقليل على الكثير
A rider should greet a pedestrian, a pedestrian should greet one who is sitting, and the few should greet the many.
⑦ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin As (RA) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): Which Islam is better? He (PBUH) said:
تطعم الطعام وتقرأ السلام على من عرفت ومن لم تعرف
Feeding others and greeting with Salam both those whom you know and those whom you do not know.
Prohibition of Pre-Islamic Greetings
① Sayyiduna Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that in the time of ignorance, we used to say: “May Allah cool your eyes because of you” and “Good morning.” When Islam came, we were prohibited from this (and instead were given the words As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh).
