ASSALAAMOALAIKUM fellow readers.

Now, did you reply “WALIKUMASSALAAM” after reading that first line?

How many of say you actually say Salaam and don’t get a reply back? Or worse, how many of you are the ones who don’t reply?

Saying Salaam to a fellow Muslim is Sunnah, and replying to it is Wajib (compulsory). Nowadays, we are so caught up with western culture, we say “Hey, what’s up? How are you?” upon meeting someone. And when we depart, we say, “Alright, take care! Bye!”

Have we forgotten our own culture? Have we forgotten our distinct identity as Muslims? Even when you enter someone’s house (or your own) you should enter by saying Salaam. Even if no one is in there, it increases barakah (blessing). Don’t hesitate to be the first to Salaam whenever you see a fellow Muslim; whether you know them or not.

This post is inspired by a lecture given by Shaikh Rafiq Sufi on this topic.  He mentioned that some people wait for someone else to say. Even if someone is a “Chaudhry” or a “Khan” (or other common Muslim last names) they won’t say Salaam unless someone else has offered it to them. It perhaps make them feel subconsciously superior. Or they are ashamed to highlight their own religiosity by being the first to say it; for fear of being seen as un-Canadian and fresh-off-the-boat.

Apart from the issue of actually saying Salaam, there are some who mess it up when they do say it. Instead of “ASSALAAMOALAIKUM” they rush it and say, “slaamalaikum”. Or, they say “Allahfiz”, or “Khudafiz” instead of “Allah Hafiz” and “Khuda Hafiz” ALLAH/KHUDA means “God”, and HAFIZ means “the protector.”  Therefore the complete phrase means, “Allah the Protector”. This is a very strong sentiment which should not be mispronounced.

Are we really that caught up with our lives that we can’t even spare a few extra seconds to say the name of GOD properly? We have the time to walk down the street or the halls of school between classes and say, “Yo what’s up, how’s it going”, but not say a proper Salaam? Or maybe it’s not a time issue at all. Are you embarrassed? And if so: of what? Think long and hard about what stops you from saying InshaAllah, or Salaam or MashaAllah in front of non-Muslims or other Muslims.

Yes, we reside, study and work in the west. Yes, our lives are here. But our culture and our faith is not something we should modernize completely. Or else there are no roots left to hold on to.

Please note that there are also some restrictions on saying Salaam. You need not say it when you are in the mosque, or when someone is eating. This is because we say Salaam to remember Allah. When in the masjid, you are already communicating with the Lord. Thus, by saying Salaam, we are interrupting that mental state of being. Secondly, we don’t want someone to choke and die; so there are practical reasons to avoid opening your mouth to say Salaam while eating. 

It’s hard to get rid of habits we’ve developed for so long. But we have to be strong to re-build what’s been lost over the years. If you say it with your head held high, it becomes cool, not F.O.B-by. For example: due to the Algerian immigrant wave in France, barakah has become a French synonym for luck, used in non-Muslim vocabulary. In this way, the words we are sometimes embarrassed to say can become unique and special if only we dare to use them. Your language becomes your tag; and it stands as a method of communication with the rest of the Ummah; like a special tongue for an extraordinary club. Remember, we get only sawab for saying Salaam; so we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Allah Hafiz.
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Comments

Mazin
09/19/2009 4:55pm

Is "culture" the right word to use?

Reply
KIH
09/20/2009 5:04am

you're right: saying "salaam" is required by religion and not culture. But, often, how, when and why you say it in public (at certain moments and not at others) has more to do with culture than religion.

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Mazin
09/20/2009 12:47pm

But you said saying "salaam" is a sunnah. And then you refer it to as forgetting our "culture"

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shaheena
09/21/2009 11:47pm

this was a great article hufsa!! good job it really makes u think twice

Reply
Rehma
09/22/2009 11:26pm

Very informative! :)

Wow, i didn't know we shudnt say salaam in the masjid.

Reply
KIH
09/23/2009 6:27am

@ Mazin:

What the author is referring to is that it has become culturally acceptable to NOT say it; even to other Muslims.

If I think about my parents' generations, my mother responds with offense and indignation when one of my Muslim friends calls my house and says "Hi, can I speak to..."

Conversely, many teens these days find it awkward to say salaam to even their closest friends.

So, what we are referring to is the cultural/generational acceptance or lack of acceptance of the term and its value. In a sense, we are forgetting the culture of our parents; we are diluting something that was - and is - extremely important to them.

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Abida
09/25/2009 6:33pm

Assalamualaykum,

i have read your article, it is written very well and there are many good points that you have mentioned. But i feel you may want to check again about Salam not to be said in the masjid, because from what i have read in a \
Ahadith it is permissable, but Allah knows best!

Good job anyway :D

Reply
Hufsa link
09/25/2009 10:40pm

WalikumAsalam,

JazakAllah Khair for all the comments, and thank you to KIH for the responses, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Abida, about saying Salam in the Masjid, I should look into it; I was merely saying what I heard the Shaikh say in his lecture that night.

Mazin, like the responces above, saying salam is a part of our religion, but the way we say it and to whom we say it becomes part of our culture.

Reply
Suna
09/27/2009 1:15pm

This article was really insightful, but I was hoping there would be a part commenting on saying salaaam to the opposite sex. Obviously there is nothing suspect of a m/f saying salaam to another m/f, I'v just always found it unessecary for a man to say salaam to and unknown woman. But I know there are instances where the guy is just creepy, and you KNOW he was watching you the whole time you were in the same vicinity, and when you just acknowledge the salaam with just a nod, or even saying salaam back- they just keep staring-...awkard and sick! This is when its most frustrating and confusing because you wear hijab and try to dress as modestly and this still happens! Anyways im trailing off, but Im just wondering whats the story behing saying salaam to the opposite sex, and can anybody else relate? [long post- im sorry but i love this website SO Much and having people who can relate to you is so awesome:) ]

Reply
KIH
11/01/2009 8:52pm

Thank you for comments about the site! We love readers like you, too. =)

And the ladies at KIH will definitely agree with you on that one: the creepy Muslim brothers and their inappropriate use of the "Salaam, sister" game is definitely awkward. In those cases it's just better for people of the opposite sex to just NOT say salaam to each other because most of the time it just comes off plain slimy.

Reply



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