No Sunnah is Better than a Wajib Except...
Bismillaah
Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd
Student 'Abdur-Rahman Al-Omaisan (hafidhahullaah Ta'aala) recently said:
"No Sunnah* is better than a Wajib except in regards to the Salaam (saying 'as-salamu 'alaykum'), because Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Wa Khairuhum man bada as-Salaam (And the Best of them is the one who starts the Salaam). In regards to the Salaam, starting it is Sunnah, and returning it is Wajib. So the Sunnah (concerning the Salaam) is better than the Wajib (concerning the Salaam)."
Note:
Amma ba'd
Student 'Abdur-Rahman Al-Omaisan (hafidhahullaah Ta'aala) recently said:
"No Sunnah* is better than a Wajib except in regards to the Salaam (saying 'as-salamu 'alaykum'), because Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Wa Khairuhum man bada as-Salaam (And the Best of them is the one who starts the Salaam). In regards to the Salaam, starting it is Sunnah, and returning it is Wajib. So the Sunnah (concerning the Salaam) is better than the Wajib (concerning the Salaam)."
Note:
* The word Sunnah used here is referring to a recommended act/statement that is not obligatory, as is used by the jurists (Fuqaha). Otherwise, the word Sunnah refers to the Prophet's statements, actions, and his tacit approvals - some of which are obligatory (such as Ash-Shahadatayn, having the correct 'aqeedah, the 5 obligatory prayers, Zakat, Hajj, fasting Ramadan, obedience to parents, Hijab, returning the salaam) and some of which are recommended (such as the optional prayers, optional fasting, using the miswak, beginning the salaam). The word Sunnah has also been used to refer to the 'aqeedah and manhaj, and the word Sunnah has also been used to refer to the entire Religion.
__________________________________________________
Proofs from Revelation for the Legislation of the Islaamic Greeting of 'As-salaamu 'alaykum'
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: When you meet your Muslim brother, give him the salaam. [Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Should I not inform you of something that, if you were to do it, would cause you to love one another? Spread the salaam between yourselves. [Muslim]
It is related by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhee, who graded it as Hadith Hasan (sound Hadith), on the authority of 'Imran (radiallaahu 'anhu) that he narrated:
A man came to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and greeted him saying, "As-Salamu 'Alaikum (peace be upon you)," and he replied to him. When the man sat down, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Ten (good deeds)."
Another man came and greeted him saying, "As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi (Peace and Mercy of Allaah be upon you)", and the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) replied. When the man sat down, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Twenty."
A third man came and greeted him saying, "As-Salamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh (Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allaah be upon you)", and the Prophet replied. When the man sat down,the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Thirty."
Allaah, Ta'aala, said:
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّة فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبا
When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allaah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things. (An-Nisa`, ayah 86)
For more on the salaam and its legislated wisdom, and tremendous individual and communal benefits, click here, or ----> http://www.salafitalk.net/st//uploads/The_Salaam_[Final_Copy].doc
