Question # 591: I would like to inquire about the proper way to give and receive the greeting of Salam, as it has been narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (saws). In particular, I am curious to know whether the response, “Wa `alaykum As-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuhu” (meaning, “and upon you be peace, as well as the mercy of Allah, His blessings, and His forgiveness”) was indeed conveyed by him.

Bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: The Islamic greeting, “As-salaamu alaykum” (peace be upon you), can be extended for greater reward by adding “wa rahmatullah” (and the mercy of Allah) and further by saying “wa barakatuhu” (and His blessings). The Qur’an instructs returning a greeting with one better or equal (Soorah An-Nisa’a, 4:86). Authentic ahadith show the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) encouraged this extended greeting, awarding increasing rewards for each addition. However, adding “wa maghfiratuhu” (and His forgiveness) is based on weak and inauthentic reports. Therefore, the best and most complete phrase is to greet with or return “As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu” in accordance with Sunnah.

Long Answer: The Muslim may limit the greeting when initiating it to simply saying “As-salaamu `alaykum (peace be upon you).” But if he adds “wa rahmatullah (and the mercy of Allah),” that is better. And if he also adds to that “wa barakatuhu (and His blessings),” that is even better. [The following are the evidence from the divine revelations:]

  • The one who is greeted may limit his response to the greeting by saying the same thing with which he was greeted. However, if he adds more to that, it is better, because Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner.]” (Soorah An-Nisa’a, 4:86)
  • Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated that `Umar (رضي الله عنه) came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) when he was in an upper room of his, and he said: As-salaamu `alayka ya Rasul-Allah, As-salamu `alaykum, may `Umar enter? (Narrated by Abu Dawud; classed as saheeh by Al-Albani in Sahih Abu Dawud)
  • At-Tirmidhi narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When a man meets his Muslim brother, let him say As-salaamu `alaykum wa ramatullahi wa barakatuhu (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings).” (This hadith was classed as saheeh by Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi)
  • `Imran ibn Al-Husayn (رضي الله عنه) said: A man came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said: As-salamu `alaykum. He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) returned the greeting, then he (the man) sat down, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Ten [meaning ten rewards for a good deed].” Another man came and said: As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah. He returned the greeting, then he (the man) sat down. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Twenty.” Another man came and said: As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) returned the greeting, then he (the man) sat down. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Thirty.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud and by At-Tirmidhi, who said: It is sound. It was classed as saheeh by Al-Albani in Sahih At-Tirmidhi)
  • `Aishah (رضي الله عنها) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said to me: “Jibril conveys greetings of Salam to you.” I said: And upon him be peace and the mercy of Allah. (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Ruling on adding ‘wa maghfiratuhu’ when returning Salam

With regard to adding “wa maghfiratuhu (and His forgiveness),” it is mentioned in some ahadith with regard to initiating the greeting and returning it, but these reports are not sound. Among the ahadith mentioned are the following:

  • It was narrated from Sahl ibn Mu`adh ibn Anas (رضي الله عنه), from his father, from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم)… A hadith similar to the hadith of `Imran quoted above, with the addition: A fourth man entered and said: “As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuhu.” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Forty.” Then he said: “Thus are good deeds rewarded.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud; this hadith and the addition “wa maghfiratuhu (and His forgiveness)” was classed as inauthentic by Ibn Al-`Arabi Al-Maliki, An-Nawawi, Ibn Al-Qayyim, Ibn Hajar, and Al-Albani)

Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This hadith is inauthentic, because it has three defects:

  • It is narrated by Abu Marhum `Abd Ar-Rahim ibn Maymun, whose hadith cannot be quoted as evidence.
  • Its isnad (chain of narrators) also includes Sahl ibn Mu`adh, to whom the same comment applies.
  • Sa`id ibn Abu Maryam, one of the narrators of the hadith, was uncertain in his narration. In fact, he said: I think I heard Nafi` ibn Yazid… (Zad Al-Ma`ad fi Hadiy Khayr Al-`Ibad; As-Silsilah Ad-Da`ifah)
  • Anas (رضي الله عنه) said: A man would pass by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and say: “As-salaamu `alayka ya Rasulullah (peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah),” and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would say to him: “Wa `alayka As-salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuhu wa ridwanuhu (and upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and His forgiveness and His pleasure).” It was said to him: O Messenger of Allah, you greet this man with a Salaam with which you do not greet any of your companions. He said: “Why shouldn’t I do that, when he leaves with the reward of umpteen men?” And he used to take care of his companions. (Narrated by Ibn As-Sunni in `Amal Al-Yawm wa’l-Laylah. It is a very inauthentic hadith; it was classed as inauthentic by Ibn Al-Qayyim in Zad Al-Ma`ad and by Ibn Hajar when he said: “Ibn As-Sunni narrated in his book with a flimsy isnad (chain of narrators) from Anas, who said: A man would pass by…” (Fath Al-Bari).
  • It was narrated that Zayd ibn Arqam (رضي الله عنه) said: When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) greeted us, we would respond: “Wa `alayka As-salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuhu.” (Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu`ab Al-Iman; he classed it as inauthentic by saying: “If this was sound, we would accept it, but in its isnad going back to Shu`bah, there are some narrators whose hadith is not to be quoted as evidence.”) (Ibn Hajar said: “Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Shu`ab Al-Iman with an inauthentic isnad from Zayd ibn Arqam… And he mentioned the same hadith.” (Fath Al-Bari)

[Furthermore, ‘Aaishah (رضي الله عنها) reports that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) once conveyed to her salaam from Jibreel (عليه السلام). ‘Aaishah (رضي الله عنها) replied ‘wa alaykumus salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh’, she says she was about to add more words to her salam, but the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said salam ends here. Then he (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said ‘Rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu ‘alaykum ahlal bayt’ (referring to the verse in Soorah Hud where Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) stopped at Wa barakatuh).(Narrated by Tabarani in Al Mu’jamul Awsat. Hafiz Haythami has graded this hadith as authentic in Majma’uz Zawaid)]

Based on the above, the best and most complete phrase to use when giving the greeting of Salam is: “As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu” and the best phrase to use when returning the greeting is: “Wa `alaykum As-salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.”

(The above reply is based on the following resources:

  • Islamqa.info
  • Islamqa.org)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam