FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
IRSYAD AL-HADITH SIRI KE-156: ADAB MEMBERI SALAM
What hadith speaks about the etiquette of giving salam, and what is the ruling on initiating and replying to it?
Short answer
A sound hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim states that the rider greets the walker, the walker greets the one sitting, and the smaller group greets the larger group.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hadith
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A sound hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim states that the rider greets the walker, the walker greets the one sitting, and the smaller group greets the larger group. Initiating salam is a sunnah, while replying to it is obligatory. Within a group, initiating is a communal sunnah and replying is a communal obligation, but for a person who is alone, replying becomes an individual obligation. It is best for everyone to give and reply to the greeting, and spreading salam to those known and unknown is encouraged.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Ketahuilah bahawa memulakan salam adalah sunnah dan menjawabnya adalah wajib.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD AL-HADITH SIRI KE-156: ADAB MEMBERI SALAM”, 13 February 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-al-hadith/1033-irsyad-al-hadith-siri-ke-156-adab-memberi-salam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/etiquette-of-giving-salam-and-replying/