سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 86
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا ﴿86﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allâh is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
حُيِّيتُم
ḥuyyītum
you are greeted
بِتَحِيَّةٍۢ
bitaḥiyyatin
with a greeting
فَحَيُّوا۟
faḥayyū
then greet
بِأَحْسَنَ
bi-aḥsana
with better
مِنْهَآ
min'hā
than it
أَوْ
aw
or
رُدُّوهَآ ۗ
ruddūhā
return it
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
of
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
حَسِيبًا
ḥasīban
an Accountant
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it, or at least return it in the same manner. Surely, Allah is Ever-Accountant over all things.
[119] When a person greets another with salam, it means that he is praying to Allah Almighty for peace for him. From the Shari'ah perspective, exchanging salam among each other is a highly commendable act because it creates brotherhood in the Islamic society. In this regard, consider a few ahadith:
1. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr ؓ says that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ, "Which Islam is best?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "That you feed (others) and greet with salam both those whom you know and those whom you do not know."
[بخاري، كتاب الايمان، باب اطعام الطعام من الاسلام۔ الاستيذان، باب السلام للمعرفة و غير المعرفة]
2.
Etiquettes of Salam:
Sayyiduna Imran ؓ says that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Assalamu Alaikum," so the Prophet ﷺ said, "Ten" (i.e., he will have ten good deeds). Then another man came and said «السلام عليكم و رحمة الله», so the Prophet ﷺ said, "Twenty." Then another man came and said «السلام عليكم و رحمة الله وبركاته», and the Prophet ﷺ said, "Thirty."
[ترمذی۔ ابواب الاستیذان، باب فضل السلام]
3. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When one of you meets his brother, he should greet him with salam. Then if a tree, wall, or stone comes between them, and then he meets him again, he should greet him with salam again."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب۔ باب فی الرجل یفارق الرجل ثم یلقاہ ایسلم علیہ]
4. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The younger should greet the elder, the one walking should greet the one sitting, the few should greet the many, the rider should greet the one walking, and the one walking should greet the one standing."
[بخاری، کتاب الاستیذان باب تسلیم الصغیر علی الکبیر۔۔ مسلم، کتاب السلام، باب یسلم الراکب علی الماشی۔۔ ترمذی، ابواب الاستیذان]
5. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that some Jews came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "As-saam Alaik" (death be upon you). I understood what they were saying, so I said, "Alaikum as-saam wal-la'nah" (death and curse be upon you). The Prophet ﷺ said, "Wait, Aisha! Allah loves gentleness in every matter." I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Did you not hear what they said?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "I have already said, 'Wa Alaikum' (and upon you)."
[بخاری، کتاب الاستیذان، باب کیف الرد علی اھل الذمۃ السلام۔ مسلم، کتاب السلام، باب النہی عن ابتداء اہل الکتاب بالسلام و کیف یردعلیھم]
6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who is closest to Allah among the people is the one who greets with salam first."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب، باب فضل من بدأ بالسلام]
7. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When someone enters a gathering, he should greet with salam, and when he intends to leave, he should also greet with salam, and both these greetings are equally necessary."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب۔ باب فی السلام اذاقام من المجلس]
[119] When a person greets another with salam, it means that he is praying to Allah Almighty for peace for him. From the Shari'ah perspective, exchanging salam among each other is a highly commendable act because it creates brotherhood in the Islamic society. In this regard, consider a few ahadith:
1. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr ؓ says that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ, "Which Islam is best?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "That you feed (others) and greet with salam both those whom you know and those whom you do not know."
[بخاري، كتاب الايمان، باب اطعام الطعام من الاسلام۔ الاستيذان، باب السلام للمعرفة و غير المعرفة]
2.
Etiquettes of Salam:
Sayyiduna Imran ؓ says that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Assalamu Alaikum," so the Prophet ﷺ said, "Ten" (i.e., he will have ten good deeds). Then another man came and said «السلام عليكم و رحمة الله», so the Prophet ﷺ said, "Twenty." Then another man came and said «السلام عليكم و رحمة الله وبركاته», and the Prophet ﷺ said, "Thirty."
[ترمذی۔ ابواب الاستیذان، باب فضل السلام]
3. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When one of you meets his brother, he should greet him with salam. Then if a tree, wall, or stone comes between them, and then he meets him again, he should greet him with salam again."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب۔ باب فی الرجل یفارق الرجل ثم یلقاہ ایسلم علیہ]
4. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The younger should greet the elder, the one walking should greet the one sitting, the few should greet the many, the rider should greet the one walking, and the one walking should greet the one standing."
[بخاری، کتاب الاستیذان باب تسلیم الصغیر علی الکبیر۔۔ مسلم، کتاب السلام، باب یسلم الراکب علی الماشی۔۔ ترمذی، ابواب الاستیذان]
5. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that some Jews came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "As-saam Alaik" (death be upon you). I understood what they were saying, so I said, "Alaikum as-saam wal-la'nah" (death and curse be upon you). The Prophet ﷺ said, "Wait, Aisha! Allah loves gentleness in every matter." I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Did you not hear what they said?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "I have already said, 'Wa Alaikum' (and upon you)."
[بخاری، کتاب الاستیذان، باب کیف الرد علی اھل الذمۃ السلام۔ مسلم، کتاب السلام، باب النہی عن ابتداء اہل الکتاب بالسلام و کیف یردعلیھم]
6. The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who is closest to Allah among the people is the one who greets with salam first."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب، باب فضل من بدأ بالسلام]
7. The Prophet ﷺ said, "When someone enters a gathering, he should greet with salam, and when he intends to leave, he should also greet with salam, and both these greetings are equally necessary."
[ابو داؤد، کتاب الادب۔ باب فی السلام اذاقام من المجلس]
