Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterSalaam greeting should precede any other speech
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I have a question regarding this hadith: "The Salaam is to be said before asking any questions, so whoever asks you a question before giving the Salaam, do not answer him." Is it Saheeh (authentic), and does it apply in all situations? For example, what if my parents come to me and ask me a question without starting with the Salaam?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Al-Qaari stated that the wording mentioned in the question was reported by Ibn An-Najaar from ‘Umar.
At-Tirmithi also reported from Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said, “The Salaam (is to be said) before speaking.” At-Tirmithi said, “This is an objectionable hadeeth [i.e. weak].”
Nonetheless, despite the fact that the hadeeth is weak, the Salaf (righteous predecessors) acted according to it. As-San‘aani said, “You should greet with Salaam before speaking, because beginning with the greeting of peace is a good omen of attaining peacefulness and safety, and it comforts the person whom you are addressing, and it is a way of seeking blessings from the Name of Allah. This includes verbal and written speech. What is meant is that the Sunnah for the person who wishes to talk to another is to start (by greeting him) with the Salaam.”
Al-Munaawi said, In Al-Majmoo’ [a book authored by An-Nawawi], the Sunnah is to start with the Salaam before any speech based on the authentic narrations and because the Ummah (Islamic community) acted according to it.” For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 115220.
Hence, if your parents or either of them meets you, the Sunnah is for them to start with the Salaam. If they do not greet you with the Salaam, then they did not act according to the Sunnah. You should advise them gently and softly, even if indirectly, but do not delay doing what they ask you to do lest you would fall in the forbidden undutifulness to parents.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
