WHEN WE MEET

When we meet

சந்திக்கும் வேளையில் - When we meet

இலங்கையைச் சேர்ந்த சகோதரி ஷஹானா அவர்கள் சந்திக்கும் வேளையில் என்ற பெயரில் பீஜே எழுதிய நூலை ஆங்கிலத்தில் மொழிமாற்றம் செய்து அனுப்பியுள்ளார். நன்றியுடன் அதை நமது இணைய தளத்தில் வெளியிடுகிறோம்.

Preface

Each and everyone depend on another.

Humankind meets their relations, friends and strangers everyday in their life. There are many people don t know what they should do when they meet people, so they neglect someone. Some respect others according to their wealth and status, they worship those people and falling on a person s feet for blessings.

We shouldn t neglect and worship people as well as when we meet them. We greet people when meeting it makes humanity and good understanding between them. It will not harm anyone s self respect.

The greeting which Islam teaches, is most special than other greetings. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has explained the orders to greet people.

I have written this book to explain this with authentic. I have explained salaam, musabaha, hugging including all matters authentically in this small book. I pray Allah, everyone gets useful through this.

 P.ZAINUL ABDEEN

When we meet

Greeting in Islam (salaam)

People when they meet each other they greet in several ways. But among these greetings, Islamic greeting salaam is most acceptable compared to the non Muslims type of greetings.

When people meet they used to tell vanakkam, namasthay and etc. When we think about this we can find lot of faults in this type of greetings.

Worshiping means praying and giving respect. If a person is worshiping another person, it means the second person is worshiped by the first person. If both persons worship each other it is meaningless. This is senseless act. Between them if one is to respect and other is not, the greeting becomes, pointless. Ideally a greeting should be that a greeting is reciprocated by the other.

In the western culture the most common type of greetings is Good Morning , Good Afternoon , Good Evening , Good Night which at times is not practical.

Even though we maintain that every day is a good day we as human beings have our up s and down s. For example if there was a calamity in a person s house by way of a funeral, floods, fire or sudden accident can we greet that person by saying GOOD MORNING or GOOD EVENING etc. Definitely in the worldly context it s not a good day for him

But the Islamic greeting (salaam) Assalamu alaikum means (peace be upon you) suits every occasion. Even, in a wedding house we need peace. Even in a funeral house we need peace. Even a person, who has undergone a loss in his business, needs peace. Even the person, who has gained from his business, needs peace. We can use this Islamic greeting salaam only among everyone at any time in any occasion in our life.

The Rewards of saying Salaam (Islamic Greeting)

Saying salaam to each other is bringing us to heaven.

The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed: You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as-salamu alaikum.

 (Book: Muslim81)

A person asked Allah's Apostle. What (sort of) deeds in or (what qualities of) Islam are good? He replied, To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you don't know.

 (Book: Bukhari 12, 28, 6236)

There are frequent fights among human beings because of anger, selfishness bad habits. These fights shouldn t continue for long. Islam says when we get angry the very next moment we should become calm.

Because of that Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) said a Muslim shouldn t be angry with another Muslim for more than three days. Shouldn t be angry doesn t mean that both persons who got angry should become friends like before soon after that. It will not be possible for most people. But must reduce the anger step by step. The first step is by saying salaam to each other.

If the persons who got angry meet each other and say salaams then he will reach the first step. When this continues day by day the problem will be solved. Our Prophet Mohamed said about this in short as follows.

Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said, It is not lawful for a man to desert his brother Muslim for more than three nights. (It is unlawful for them that) when they meet, one of them turns his face away from the other, and the other turns his face from the former, and the better of the two will be the one who greets the other first.

(Book: Bukhari 6077, 6237)

Several words for salaam

We know to say Assalamu alaikum. Likewise there are several words to say salaam. In those, we can use any words to say salaam.

Salaamun Alaikum

Instead of Assalamu alaikum we can say salamun alaikum.

When those come to thee who believe in Our signs, Say: Peace be on you: Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), lo! He is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

(Al Quran 6: 54)

Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know everyone by his marks: they will call out to the Companions of the Garden, peace on you : they will not have entered, but they will have an assurance (thereof).

(Al Quran 7: 46)

 Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!

(Al Quran 13: 24)

(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them), Peace be on you; enter ye the Garden, because of (the good) which ye did (in the world).

(Al Quran 16: 32)

And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.

(Al Quran 28: 55)

And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: Peace be upon you! Well have ye done! Enter ye here, to dwell therein.

(Al Quran 39: 73)

Salaam When we meet each other if we say only salaam, that is also permissible in Islam.

(This will be) their cry therein: Glory to Thee, O Allah! And Peace will be their greeting therein! And the close of their cry will be: Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!

(Al Quran 10: 10)

There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, Peace! He answered, Peace! and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.

(Al Quran 11: 69)

But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, - to dwell therein for aye with the leave of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: Peace!

(Al Quran 14: 23)

When they entered his presence and said, Peace! He said, We feel afraid of you!

(Al Quran 15: 52)

Their salutation on the Day they meet Him will be Peace! ; and He has prepared for them a generous Reward.

(Al Quran 33: 44)

But turn away from them, and say Peace! But soon shall they know!

(Al Quran 43: 89)

Behold, they entered his presence, and said: Peace! He said, Peace! (and thought, These seem) unusual people.

(Al Quran 51: 25)

Salaamun Alaika

We can say salaam for a man salaamun alaika and for a women salaamun alaiki.

Abraham said: Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious.

(Al Quran 19: 47)

Above Quran verse is mentioned that Prophet Ibrahim (A) said salaam to his father as salaamun alaika.

Assalamu Alaika

 We can greet as Assalamu Alaika also.

Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) taught to greet assalamu alaika in the thashah huth of Atthahiyath.

 See Bukhari 831, 835, 1202, 6230, 6265, 7381.

When Allah created Adam, 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-Salamu alaikum .' They replied, 'AsSalamu-'Alaika.

This hadith was recorded in many books including Bukhari.

See Bukhari 3326, 6227

Alaika is a term used for males .When saying salaams for females the term alaiki can be used.

Miswar bin Makhrama (R) and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Aswad (R) said salaam to Aysha (R) assalamu aliaki.The above excerpt is based on this hadith.

See Bukhari 6075.

For one singular and more for plural

Alaikum is plural word. Even that we use this when we say salaam. It depends on singular or plural we can change the word to say salaam accordingly.

The Prophet said, Allah created Adam in his complete shape and form (directly), 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-Salamu alaikum (as plural).' They replied, 'AsSalamu-'Alaika wa Rahmatullah (as singular).

(Book: Bukhari 6227, 3326)

Replying For Salaam

 When a person says salaam to another one, it s compulsory to reply for the salaams.

Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) ordered us to do five things to another Muslim. He ordered us:  to follow the funeral procession. to visit the sick, to accept invitations, to return the greeting and to reply to the sneezer.

 (Book: Bukhari 1240)

Should reply for salam in good manner

A person should reply to the salaam the same way he was greeted or even better.

When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things.

(Al Quran 4: 86)

When Prophet Adam (A) said salaam to the angels he said only Assalamu alaikum. For that, when angels replied they added warahmathullahi as we mentioned in earlier hadees.

And Prophet Ibrahim (A) also replied to angels salaam as greetings, as we mentioned earlier hadees. Both hadees are testimony for this.

Convey salaam

When we meet each other we say salaam likewise we can convey our salaam to someone who is not in front of us, through another person. He must convey the salaam to the third person. And the third person should reply to the salaam accordingly.

The daughter of the Prophet (pbuh) sent (a messenger) to the Prophet requesting him to come as her child was dying (or was gasping), but the Prophet returned the messenger and told him to convey his greeting to her.

(Book: Bukhari 1284, 5655, 6655)

 .We were afraid that we might be left behind (separated) from the Prophet so I went in search of the Prophet and made my horse to run at a galloping speed at times and let it go slow at an ordinary speed at other times till I met a man from the tribe of Bani Ghifar at midnight. I asked him, Where did you leave the Prophet ? He replied, I left him at Ta'hun and he had the intention of having the midday rest at As-Suqya. I followed the trace and joined the Prophet and said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Your people (companions) send you their compliments, and (ask for) Allah's Blessings upon you. They are afraid lest they may be left behind .

(Book: Bukhari 1821, 1822)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married a woman and went inside the house. My mother Ummu Sulaim prepared sweets. I brought those sweets to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I conveyed my mother s salaam to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Narrated by Anas (R)

(Book: Nasaee 2572)

The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said to Aisha (R) O 'Aisha' this is Gabriel and he sends his (greetings) salutations to you. 'Aisha (R) said, Salutations (Greetings) to him, and Allah's Mercy and Blessings be on him .

(Book: Bukhari 3217, 3768, 6201, 6249, 6253)

Is salaam only for Muslims?

Many Muslims think we can say salaam only for Muslims. Therefore when they meet non Muslims friends they feel odd and they greet like vanakkam, vanthanam and namasthay and they lose their self respect.

In Islam if there is a rule to avoid saying salaam to non Muslims it should be followed, there is no question about it. But Allah and Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) do not teach us like that. Lot of people does not know that Islam allows saying salaam to non Muslims.

Now we will see the testimonies.

In many verses in the Al Quran, Allah has emphasized Muslims to follow the ways of Prophet Ibrahim (A)

Read the Quran 2:130, 2:135, 3:95, 4:125, 6:161, 16:123, and 22:78.

Once Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) seeked forgiveness from Allah for his father. When he knew, he can t ask forgiveness for non believers from Allah, he didn t. Allah says in the Quran, there are many lessons in Prophet Ibrahim s (pbuh) life except seeking forgiveness for his father.

Quote

 There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone : But not when Abraham said to his father: I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah. (They prayed): Our Lord! In Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal.

(Al Quran 60: 4)

Ibrahim said: Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious.

(Al Quran 19: 47)

We can t take this as a model in our life. But at the same time we can get the lesson that we can say salaam to non Muslims through these two verses. Therefore, saying salaam to non Muslims is in Prophet Ibrahim s footpath. We can t refuse this.

Some people ask how can we say like peace be upon you (salaam) for non Muslims. This Question is wrong.

Assalamualikum means peace be upon you. One meaning is when they follow the Islam as their (non Muslims) guideline, they will get peace. Another meaning is they might get every good thing in this world. There is no restriction to pray for good things for non Muslims in this world. So, there is no reason to avoid saying salaam among non Muslims.

Prophet Mohamed said that spread the salaam to knowing and unknowing people as we mentioned earlier.

If there is a law, we should say salaam only for Muslims, Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) would have told us as to say salaam to only Muslims. But he didn t. He said knowing and unknowing persons.

If we do not know about a person we do not know whether he is a Muslim or not. We know Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) as he mentioned we can say salaam to everyone without worrying.

Allah guides us when stupid people argue about this, we should say salaam and be silent. There are bad people and non Muslims in this group.

And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!

(Al Quran 25:63)

And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.

(Al Quran 28: 55)

(Allah has knowledge) of the (Prophet s) cry, O my Lord! Truly these are people who will not believe! But turn away from them, and say Peace! But soon shall they know!

(Al Quran 43: 88, 89)

If we read these verses we can realize that we can say salaam to non Muslims too.

Even though, some people misunderstand about this issue and they say we cannot say salaam to non Muslims.

If people of the book say salaam, say wa allaikum (up on you) said by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

(Book: Bukhari 6258)

Because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered to say wa allaikum, misunderstanding people are arguing that we can t say salaam to non Muslims.

In Islam there is a common rule that when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered something in particular we should take it and what He prohibited by giving reasons we should avoid it. This we can t take as a common prohibition.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has explained the reason to say wa allaikum for the people of the book.

The Jews used to greet the Prophet by saying, (without saying Assalamu) As-Samu 'Alaika (i.e., death be upon you), so I understood what they said, and I said to them, As-Samu 'alaikum wal-la'na (i.e. Death and Allah's Curse be upon you).

(Book: Bukhari 6257, 2935, 6256, 6024, 6030, 6395, 9401, 6927)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered not to say salaam because the Jews said assamu instead of assalamu. We can understand through this that if they say properly only we can reply them properly. This is the proper way to understand this issue with the hadees what we have mentioned earlier.

The Orders of saying salaam

Anyone can say salaam first when they meet somebody. Even though Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has mentioned who is the right person to say salaam first.

Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said, The riding one should greet the walking one, and the walking one should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons.

(Book: Buhari 6232, 6234)

In another hadees Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has mentioned, the young should say salaam first to the old.

(Book: Bukhari 6231)

The young should say salaam to the old is best even though elders saying salaam to young ones is great example.

Anas (R) that he passed by a group of boys and greeted them and said, The Prophet used to do so.

(Book: Bukhari 6247)

When you re in a call of nature, should not say salaam

We can say salaam to someone while eating, drinking and doing other things. He also can reply. But we can t say salaam to the person who is in a call of nature. In this position anyone can t reply for salaam also.

When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was in a call of nature, a man who was passing him said salaam to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). But Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) didn t reply him.

(Book: Muslim 555)

Males can say salaam to females and females also can say salaam to males

There is no restriction in Islam for this. Some people say that males shouldn t hear females voice. This is wrong. There is no testimony for this in Islam.

There was a woman amongst us who had a farm and she used to sow Silq (a kind of vegetable) on the edges of the streams in her farm. On Fridays she used to pull out the Silq from its roots and put the roots in a utensil. Then she would put a handful of powdered barley over it and cook it. The roots of the Silq were a substitute for meat. After finishing the Jumma prayer we used to greet her and she would give us that food which we would eat with our hands, and because of that meal, we used to look forward to Friday. Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

 (Book: Bukhari 938, 6248)

This happened every week during Prophet Mohammed s (pbuh) period. If it is wrong Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) would have pin pointed out.

Musabaha- Shaking Hands

When we meet each other, shaking hands is also one of the ways of Prophet s.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said Yemen people had come. They only greeted with musabaha to us in first time .

 (Book: Abudawood 4537)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) agreed the way of musabah through this.

Three companions including Kahf bin Malik (R) were boycotted by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) some days for not presented in Thabook war. After that Allah revealed a Quran verse and said that those three are forgiven by Allah. After that Kahf bin Malik (R) went to masjid. Whe he mentioned about this he says I went inside the masjid. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was there. When Thalha (R) saw me, he came towards me did musabaha and gave his wishes .

 (Book: Buhari 4418)

 I went with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to take oath from some ladies. Then Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned them whatever you can perform according to your strength . And he said I don t do musabaha with females .

 (Book: Ibnumajah 2865)

According to I don t do musabaha with females , we can understand Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) had musabaha with males.

Males for males and females for females do musabaha is the way of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

We should learn the correct way to do musabaha. The Indian s when doing musabaha, they touch other person two hands by their two hands. Some people when doing musabaha, they press other one s small finger.

Because of their superstition of Kilr who is supposed to be alive. It is stated that he doesn t have flesh in his small finger. He comes with anyone s feature. If we do musabaha with him, we will be Avliya. This story is from stupidity that is due the lack of knowledge of Islam. There is no testimony of this in Islam.

The correct way of do musabaha is, touching each ones right hand.

The meaning of musabaha is touching palm to palm.

When both do from one hand only this comes true. When we use both hands to do musabaha, left palm is touched by other one s right palm opposite side of palm. Both palms won t fit together. Therefore, we can t get the straight meaning of musabaha, should do from one hand.

The scholars Ibnu Hajar and Ibnul Kayyum have denoted that musabaha should be done by one hand it is the correct way according to the dictionary.

The people who say that can do musabaha by both hands or should do by both hands, showing testimony for the following hadees which is in buhari.

Imam Buhari has published this hadees under the subject of musabaha. But there is no connection with musabaha.

Prophet Muhammad taught me atthahiyath. At that time, my hand was between Prophet Muhammad s both hands. This is the hadees.

 (Book: Bukhari 6265)

Through this hadees, we can understand when a person teaches another one he can hold the hand of leaner and teach. This hadees does not denote about doing musabaha when people meet.

And Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used both hands and Ibnu Mashu ud (R) used one hand. The people who denote this hadees as testimony of musabaha must consider this hadees. Because it does not denote one should use one hand and other should use both hands .

Hugging

When people meet there is a custom to hug each one. This act is not the way of Prophet authentically. Every hadiths which describe about this are weak.

 Zaid Bin Harisa (R) came to Prophet s house and knocked the door. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was inside the house. Prophet went to open the door nudely as long as his cloth was dragged. I never saw him like that earlier or after. As soon as Prophet hugged him and kissed . Narrated by Aysha (R)

(Book: Tirmidhi 2656)

The order of narration of this hadith is weak. Let s see how it became weak.

v Urva has narrated from Aysha (R).

v Zuhri has narrated from Urva.

v Muhammad Bin Is hak has narrated from Zuhri.

v Yahya Bin Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad Bin Is hak.

v Ibrahim has narrated from his father Yahya Bin Muhammad.

v Imam Bukhari has narrated from Ibrahim.

v Imam Tirmidhi has recorded from Imam Buhari.

Above this order of narration Yahya Bin Muhammad and his son Ibrahim both are weaklings (weak persons).

This hadith is announced by two weaklings. Therefore we can t accept this as authentic.

Above mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) went nude to open the door, weaken the hadith s authenticity even more. Because, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) presents nude among everyone is against to most quranic and hadith verses.

Being Prophet s wife, Aysha (R) mentioned in above hadith as she never saw him nude like that also weaken to the authenticity.

Narrated AbuDharr: Ayyub ibn Bushayr ibn Ka'b al-Adawi quoted a man of Anazah who said that he asked AbuDharr when he left Syria: I wish to ask you about a tradition of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He said: I shall tell you except that it is something secret. Did the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) shake hands with you when you met him? He replied: I never met him without his shaking hands with me. One day he sent for me when I was not at home. When I came I was informed that he had sent for me. I came to him and found him on a couch. He embraced me and that was better and better.

(Book: Abu dawud 4538, Ahmad 20470, 20502)

Ayyoob Bin Buhair has mentioned, a person narrated from Aboothar (R).

What s this person s name? Is he good mannered or bad? How is his memory? When these matters not mentioned, can t accept this as authentic hadith.

Anas (R) narrated that Prophet s companions do musabaha when they meet. When they come from journey, they hug each other.

(Book: Aswath of Thabrani)

This hadith is also weak for below reasons.

v Kathatha has narrated from Anas (R).

v Shuh ba has narrated from Kathatha.

v Abdus Salam Bin Harb has narrated from Shuhba.

v Ahmed Bin Yahya has narrated from Abdus Salam Bin Harb.

v The author Thabrani has recorded from Ahmad Bin Yahya.

No one narrated this hadith except Abdus Salam Bin Harb from Shuhba at last. Thabrani has mentioned only Yahya has narrated individually that he qouted.

Because Thabrani says, when Abdus Salam Bin Harb and Yahya Bin Sulaiman Al Juaifi both are narrated individually should not accept.

Ahmad Bin Hambal and Abdullah Bin Mubarak have criticized Abdus Salam Bin Harb. Yahkoob Bin Shaiba and Ibnu Sa ath have stated his hadith has some sort of weakness. Some says that he is trustworthy. The conclusion is when he narrates individually, it s not acceptable.

The scholars have decided in the same way of Yahya Bin Sulaiman Al Juaifi also. Therefore, this hadith is also not authentic.

And also it is not allied to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We must consider, this is narrated by companions way.

There is no authentic hadith related to hugging.

Sometimes hugging is hateful behavior. If a person with a clean suit hates when a person who is expelled the moisture through the skin and unclean hugging him. He gets angry. When people meet each other we should share our affection. This incident makes great dislike as we know.

Therefore, the Prophet s way is only shaking hands.

Kissing Hands

Some people has superstition of kissing hands to the people who may as consider as great persons.

There are some hadiths that few companions of Prophets have kissed Prophet s hand in some situations. There are different opinions of authenticity in those.

If we accept those as authentic, it is not authentic for this act.

People think when they kiss the hands of great persons as far as we know (not Allah and Prophet mentioned), it is barakath.

We should believe Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a great person. It s must. Other than the persons who Allah and Prophet have mentioned, we may believe them also as great persons.

Except that we do not have authority to decide anyone as great persons. Sometimes when we consider some one as a great person, may be Shaithan in Allah s view.

Therefore, the persons who have not mentioned as great ones by Allah and Allah s messenger are in equal position.

We can t decide anyone as a great person from his external appearance like keeping beard, wearing jubbah and the fluent in Arabic. If we think in this manner, it is a great sin for taking Allah s authority in our hand.

When Allah asks who are you to decide that weather he is a great person or not we have no reply.

Therefore, we don t have rights to kiss anyone. Islam teaches us only say salaam and musabaha.

Falling on a person s feet

Some people go beyond the limit and falling on a person s feet. We should understand that this is not permissible in Islam.

Al Quran describes this clearly,

Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises, and prostrate before Him.

(Al Quran 7: 206)

Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve.

(Al Quran 41: 37)

But fall ye down in prostration to Allah, and adore (Him)!

(Al Quran 53: 62)

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, If I give permission to sajdah one for another, I would have given permission to sajdah wife to husband.

 Narrated by: Abuhuraira (R)

 Book: Tirmidhi 1079

I went to al-Hirah and saw them (the people) prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said: The Apostle of Allah (pbuh) has most right to have prostration made before him. When I came to the Prophet (pbuh), I said: I went to al-Hirah and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right, Apostle of Allah, to have (people) prostrating themselves before you. He said: Tell me, if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it? I said: No. He then said: Do not do so. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to husbands by Allah.

Narrated by: Qays ibn Sa'd

Book: Abu Dawud1828

Mu adh (R) came to Sham or Yemen. There he saw Christians did sajadah for their priests and leaders. He thought that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the only suitable person for this. (When he came to Medina) he asked Prophet Messenger of Allah! I saw the Christians did sajadah for their priests and leaders. I thought you re the honorable person to this. I asked them why you all doing like this? They said that this way only the greetings of passed prophets. We are the right persons to do for our prophet . Then, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) say they lied similarly they changed their revelation made by Allah. Allah has given us better than this. That is only salaam .

Narrated by: Abdullah Bin Abi avfa (R)

 Book: Ahmed 18591

Falling on the feet is forbidden in Islam to everyone even he is a respectable person in the society.

Testimonies of those who are misguided

Below Quranic verses declares that when Allah created the first man Adam and then itself Allah showed his talents and asked angels to do sajadah to Adam.

Quranic verses are: 2:34, 7:11, 15:29, 30, 31, 17:61, 18:50, 20:116, 38:72

Some people take above verses as testimony to argue bending our forehead to great persons is acceptable. This is completely wrong.

When we have a clear proof we can t fulfill the order of Angel s. We can respect and obey the elders. But falling on feet and doing sajadah for them are not acceptable in Islam.

There is no custom of this among the community which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has built up. We should understand the meaning of sajadah for further clarification. When, how this word of sajadah used.

Before Prophet Muhammad s (pbuh) birth, Arabs have been using these words prayer (salath), fasting (sawm), zakath. These words were not used like nowadays.

We are used to call prayer as salah. But the proper meaning of this word is supplication. Arabs had been using this word above in such meaning.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had used the word salah for certain prayers with some ritual acts.

Today we use the word sawm for fasting. But, in Prophet Muhammad s (pbuh) period the word sawm meant by restriction.

Islam never uses new words to call all the religion activities. Islam uses the words which has been using from those days.

Likewise, the word sajadah had been using since before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

We all understand the meaning of sajadah is bending of the head with forehead, nose, both palms, both knees and toes of both legs.

But there was no such meaning before Prophet Muhammad s (pbuh) explanation of this word. The meaning of this word was obedience. The all act of obedience called by sajadah .

Not only in the dictionary there are many places in the Quran also this word used as obedience.

 Enter the gate with humility (Al-Quran 2:58, 4:154, 7:161)

We can give the meaning of above word sajadah, obedience according to the dictionary. We can t mean this word according to Islamic term. Because, we can t enter while doing this sajadah.

Al-Quran 22: 18 says,

Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind?

Those things do not have face, nose hands and knees. And do not have back to bend. Mountains and trees are not movable. But, Allah says these are do sajadah for him.

Sun, Moon and Star do sajadah without rest according to Allah s plan. This the way they do sajadah. Sajadah of trees they bloom flowers and fruits.

Mountains give balance to the earth according to Allah s order. This is their sajadah.

Totally, all creations of Allah accept Allah s Almightiness and their humbleness and obey Allah. This is their sajadah.

We can clearly know in 12:4, 13:15 and 16:48, 49 quranic verses of sajadah also comes as obedience.

Likewise, we should understand the above verses which are mentioned about sajadah of angels to Adam. There are many reasons to confirm this.

Angels are not similar to human. They do not have a specific appearance. There is no testimony that they have organs of sajadah like us. Sometimes angel Jibreel came to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) like a human being. We can t say that is his appearance. Because, he appeared between the sky and the earth made fully to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They have feathers also.

Therefore, we can t consider them like us. We can able to realize how ever they are able to obey, in that manner they obey.

For an argument if they did sajadah like how we do even we can t follow that. The reason why, Allah ordered only they did sajadah to Adam.

Allah or Allah s messenger did not order to sajadah to elders. They prohibit this.

Further, some people show below verses also regarding Prophet Yoosuf as testimony.

Behold! Joseph said to his father: O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!

(Al Quran 12: 4)

Stars, Sun and Moon do not have sajadah s organs like us. Therefore, we can mean the word sajadah as obedience here. So, this is not a proper a testimony for them.

And he raised his parents high on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in prostration, (all) before him. He said: O my father! this is the fulfilment of my vision of old! Allah hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you (all here) out of the desert, (even) after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all that He planneth to do, for verily He is full of knowledge and wisdom.

(Al Quran 12: 100)

First, we should realize the meaning of quranic verse 12:100. This verse describes the dream what Prophet Yoosuf dreamt and how it came true.

Star indicates brothers, Sun indicates father and Moon indicates mother. If the dream has to come true, the sentence they fell down in prostration, (all) includes Prophet Yoosuf s parents also.

If the person who is done sajadah by others be seated the throne only others can able to do sajadah. But, this verse describes the persons (Prophet Yoosuf s parents) who is going to do sajadah only let them be seated the throne. Through this we can realize they did not do sajadah. Then it meant the dream did not come true.

But when we give the meaning obedience to sajadah only above two verses are not against to one another. When they agree Prophet Yoosuf s mastery it means they obey him. So they fell down in prostration suits here.

Yahkoob and Yoosuf both are Prophets. Prophet Yahkoob was father of Prophet Yoosuf also. We should realize being fathered how Prophet Yahkoob does sajadah to Prophet Yoosuf? We can realize clearly for them there is no testimony on this.

Respect while standing

There is custom among our society when they meet people who elders or leaders or very important people, they stand up and give respect.

Standing for welcoming and sending off some one is permissible in Islam. Standing for respect is prohibited in Islam.

We should realize the difference between these.

We think when we go to meet someone he did not stand up for us but he stood up for the very important person, it means he stood up for giving respect. It clearly proved. Whoever comes he never gets up means his standing is not for giving respect.

Further, there are two persons. One is more respectable than other one. When other one stands up for respectable and the respectable one does not stand up means, here standing is for giving respect. We should take care of this matter.

Below hadiths declares the reality of this issue.

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was ill and we said prayer behind him and he was sitting. And Abu Bakr was making audible to the people his takbir.As he paid his attention towards us he saw us standing and (directed us to sit down) with a gesture.So we sat down and said our prayer with his prayer in a sitting posture.After uttering salutation he said: You were at this time about to do an act like that of the Persians and the Romans. They stand before their kings while they sit, so don't do that; follow your Imams. If they say prayer standing, you should also do so, and if they say prayer sitting, you should also say prayer sitting.

(Book: Muslim 624)

There was no one preferable than Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to companions. Being that they never stand up when they saw Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

 Narrated by: Anas (R)

Books: Tirmidhi 2678, Ahmad 11895, 12068, 13132

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says, one who wants to make stand up any one for him, he is occupied a place in hell.

Narrated by: Mu aviya (R)

Books: Abu Dawood 4552, Tirmidhi 2679

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says, when Saa d Bin Muaadh (R) came, stand up for your leaders.

Book: Bukhari 3043, 3804, 4121, 6262

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) got up to Saa d for welcoming. Not for giving respect.

When Fathima (R) comes Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gets up and walks towards her.

Book: Abu Dawud 4540, Trimidhi 3807

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stands up for welcoming his daughter. Not for giving respects.

Elders stand up for youngsters is welcome. But, when youngsters stand up for the elders is difference.

So, when we meet people we can say salaam and musabaha. Other than any respects are not permissible in Islam. May Allah help us to live according to Islam!

30.05.2012. 10:18 AM