Duas of Greeting
Dua 1: The Greeting of Peace
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As I reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Which part of Islam is best?” He replied: “That you feed people and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” Abu Hurayrah I also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you of something which, if you do it, will cause you to love one another? Spread Salam among yourselves.”
| Reference | Al-Bukhari (12), Muslim (39), Muslim (54) |
Dua 2: The Complete Forms of Salam
Imran ibn al-Husayn I reported that a man greeted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by saying, “Peace be upon you,” and the Prophet ﷺ said: “Ten.” Another said, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah,” and he ﷺ said: “Twenty.” A third said, “Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah,” and he ﷺ said: “Thirty.” A separate narration from Mu’adh ibn Anas I mentions a man adding “and His forgiveness,” after which the Prophet ﷺ said: “Forty.”
| Reference | Abu Dawud (5195), Abu Dawud (5196), At-Tirmidhi (2689) |
Dua 3: An Extended Reply to Salam
Anas I reported that a man would pass by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and say: “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ would reply: “And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah, His blessings, His forgiveness and His good pleasure.” When someone asked why he had greeted the man with words he had not used for his Companions, he ﷺ said: “What prevents me from doing so when he departs with the reward of more than ten men?”
| Reference | Ibn as-Sunni (234) |
Dua 4: Replying to a Conveyed Greeting
When someone conveys another person’s Salam, it is recommended to return the greeting to both the person conveying it and the person who sent it. A man said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “My father sends you Salam.” The Prophet ﷺ replied:
| Reference | Abu Dawud (5231) |
Dua 5: Replying to the Greeting of a Non-Muslim
Anas I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When the People of the Book greet you, say: ‘And upon you.’”
| Reference | Al-Bukhari (6258), Muslim (2163), Abu Dawud (5207) |
Dua 6: Greeting Children
Anas I reported that he passed by some children and greeted them, saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do the same. Another narration reports that the Prophet ﷺ passed by children and greeted them with these words.
| Reference | Abu Dawud (5202), At-Tirmidhi (2696), Ibn as-Sunni (226) |
Dua 7: Greeting When Entering an Empty Home
It is recommended to give Salam when entering one’s home, even if no one is there.
| Reference | Kitab al-Adhkar |
Dua 8: Greeting When Entering an Empty Mosque or House
When entering an empty mosque or someone else’s empty house, the following greeting may be said.
| Reference | Kitab al-Adhkar |
Dua 9: Dua When Parting
Anas I reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ shook hands with someone before parting, he would say:
| Reference | Ibn as-Sunni (203) |
Dua 10: Praising Allah and Seeking Forgiveness When Meeting
Al-Bara ibn Azib I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When two Muslims meet and shake hands, praise Allah and ask Him for forgiveness, Allah forgives them.”
One may praise Allah and seek His forgiveness with words such as:
| Reference | Abu Dawud (5211), Ibn as-Sunni (192) |
Dua 11: Sending Salawat When Meeting and Parting
Anas I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No two slaves of Allah who love one another for the sake of Allah meet, shake hands, and send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ before parting, except that their past and future sins are forgiven.”
One may send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ with words such as:
| Reference | Ibn as-Sunni (193) |
