Grade 1 Adab Unit 1 The Greeting in Islam Table of Contents Lesson 1: What Does Greeting Mean?...............................................................................................3 Lesson 2: How the Islamic Greeting began......................................................................................4 Activity 1: Read about/Listen to How the Greeting Begin...................................................5 Lesson 3: The Islamic Greeting...........................................................................................................6 Lesson 3a: What is the Islamic greeting?....................................................................................6 Activity 1: Saying As-salaamu Alaykum.....................................................................................6 Lesson 3b: Do I have to greet another Muslim?.........................................................................6 Lesson 3c: How to return the greeting.........................................................................................8 Lesson 3d: What if I don’t return the greeting?.......................................................................9 Lesson 3e: Do I have to greet someone I don’t even know?..................................................10 Lesson 4: Greeting First......................................................................................................................11 Lesson 4a. Why is it Important to Greet First?.......................................................................11 Lesson 4b: Who exactly should greet whom first?..................................................................12 Activity 1: Practice Greeting First...........................................................................................13 Lesson 5: Greetings Around the World...........................................................................................14 Activity 5a. Words and Ways of Greeting around the World..........................................14 Activity 5b. Ways to Greet Around the World.....................................................................16 Activity 5c. Geography and Greetings.....................................................................................17 Conclusion/Extras:................................................................................................................................18 Poem about the Greeting................................................................................................................... 18 Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 2 of 18 Lesson 1: What Does Greeting Mean? A greeting is something that you say or do upon meeting someone or passing by them. When we say meet, we mean come together or come near. Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 3 of 18 Lesson 2: How the Islamic Greeting began. Muslims have their own special way of greeting. How do we know how to greet each other? We can learn this by the Quraan or ahadith (or sayings) of Allah’s Messenger, Prophet Muhammad Sit back while your Ummy, Abi, or teacher reads to you the story about the beginning of the Islamic, or Muslim, greeting. Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 4 of 18 Activity 1: Read about/Listen to How the Greeting Begin. HOW THE SALAAM (GREETING) BEGAN. Narrated Abu Hurairah [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhu]: The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "Allâh created Adam in His Image, sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in height. When He created him, He said (to him), 'Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.' Adam (went and) said, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum (peace be upon you).' They replied, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullah (Peace and Allâh's Mercy be on you).' So they increased 'wa Rahmatullah.' “ (Sahih Bukhari) Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 5 of 18 Lesson 3: The Islamic Greeting Lesson 3a: What is the Islamic greeting? Do you remember from the story or already know, what the proper Muslim greeting is? The proper way to greet another Muslim is by saying: (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5) م(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)ا Activity 1: Saying As-salaamu Alaykum Practice saying, As-salaamu Alaykum correctly several times. Be sure to speak clearly and slowly so that you say all the syllables or word parts. Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 6 of 18 Lesson 3b: Do I have to greet another Muslim? It is a duty for one Muslim to greet another Muslim when he meets him. A duty is something that we have to do. Abu Hurairah said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The rights a Muslim has over another Muslim are five." He was asked, "What are they?" He replied, "When he meets him, he should greet him, When he gives him an invitation, he should accept. When he asks him for advice, he should give him good counsel. When he sneezes and praises Allah, he should wish him mercy. When he is ill, he should visit him. When he dies, he should accompany him." (Bukhari, Al Adab Al Mufrad) So, yes, you have to greet another Muslim! At-Tufayl ibn Ubayy ibn Ka'b related that he used to visit 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar and would go with him to the market. He said, "When we went to the market, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar did not pass by any rubbish collector nor merchant nor poor person nor anyone else without greeting them."(Bukhari) Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 7 of 18 Lesson 3c: How to return the greeting. When someone greets you with a greeting, you return the greeting. There are several ways you can return the greeting; “wa Alaykum us salaam” (and peace be upon you) “Wa Alaykum us salaam wa rahmatullahi” (and peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you) “Wa Alaykum us salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu” (and peace and mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you) Although there are other ways to return the greeting from the sunnah, these are the most common ways to return the greeting. 'A'isha reported, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ''A'ish! This is Jibril who sends you greetings.' I said, 'And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. You see what I do not see." By that she meant the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. (Bukhari) So…..which way is better? According to the sunnah, these are all fine, insha Allah. But when you are returning a greeting keep this in mind: Allah tells us in the Quraan (4:86) that which means: 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. So, if someone says As-salaamu Alaykum, to return it with that which is better would be to say wa alaykum us salaam wa rahmatullahi or wa Alaykum us salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu and Allah knows best. Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 8 of 18 Salim, the mawla of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr, said, "When Ibn 'Umar was greeted, he returned it with increase. I came upon him sitting down and said, 'Peace be upon you,' and he said, 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.' Then I came another time and said, 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, and he said, 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.' Then I came to him another time and said, 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings,' and he said, 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and the best of His prayers.'" Lesson 3d: What if I don’t return the greeting? Abu Hurayra said, "The most miserly of people is the person who is miserly with the greeting. The one who is cheated of good is the one who does not return it. To be miserly means to be stingy and selfish. But when we are miserly and do not return the greeting, we are not just being stingy; we are missing out on blessings. So remember: RETURN A GREETING GIVEN TO YOU! Peace is one of the Names of Allah which Allah has placed on the earth. Extend it among you. When a man greets people and they answer him, then he has a higher degree than them because he reminds them of peace. If no one answers him, he will be answered by one who is better and more excellent.'" (Bukhari) Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 9 of 18 Lesson 3e: Do I have to greet someone I don’t even know? Greeting those you know and those you do not know 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that a man said, "Messenger of Allah, which aspect of Islam is best?" He replied, "Feeding people and greeting those you know and those you do not know." (Bukhari) So, yes, greet those you know as well as those you don’t know! Try this! The next time (and anytime) you see a Muslim that you do not know, give them the salaam (greeting). Grade 1/Adab/Unit 1/Greeting Page 10 of 18