In another hadith, it is mentioned, “Spread salaam and feed people. Pray in the middle of the night. You will enter Jannah very easily.” Salaam is a hallmark of Islam, and within our environments, we should be reviving it, especially with our elders and teachers and anyone who is senior to us. It is a mark of disrespect that an elder comes across us and we do not say salaam to them. This is from rudeness and bad character, even though salaam should be said to someone of any age. If a person who is older than us comes by and we do not greet them with salaam, this is a sign of rudeness. In another hadith, the prophet (SAW) says, “Spread salaam. You will be elevated.” People want to be respected and looked at in a higher regard. This is achievable by spreading salaam. This salaam is not just for school; the first thing we do when we enter our homes is say salaam.
The prophet (SAW) told Anas (RA), “When you enter your house, say salaam. It will bring blessings to you and everyone who lives there.” In fact, any house that is entered without the zikr of Allah, Shaytan spends the night there and partakes in the food there. Anyone who has entered into their house with the zikr of Allah, Shaytan and his groups have no access. What do you think Shaytan does when he enters a house? He creates fights, trouble, restlessness and anger, and creates divides in that house. This salaam is a very powerful thing. From now on, we must make it a habit to spread salaam to everyone around us; our teachers, elders, and those youngest of us. It should never happen that two Muslims come across each other and do not say salaam. You are also getting closer to Allah (SWT) by doing this.
[Taken from a lecture titled “Spreading Salaam” by Mufti Aasim Rashid]
