Tradition

لِلسَّلامِ سَبْعُونَ حَسَنةٌ تِسْعٌ وَ سِتُّونَ لِلْمُبْتَدى وَ واحِدَةٌ لِلْرّادِّ

Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is narrated to have said: “The Salam has 70 rewards of which 69 of them are for the initiator of the greeting, while 1 of them is for the one who responds.”1

Brief Commentary

Amongst all the greetings that people around the world give to one another, the Islamic greeting has a particularly special context and meaning. This is because it is both a welcoming greeting, as well as a sign of peace, happiness, and friendship. At the same time, it also conveys a positive desire for the person’s health and soundness (physical, mental, and spiritual). It is for this same reason that the greetings of the dwellers of paradise will be the Salam. In addition, the angels will also greet the people who have lived pure lives with this greeting.

Unfortunately, some amongst the Muslims believe that initiating the greeting or replying is actually a sign of weakness. They therefore abstain from greeting others or from replying to their greeting. What they do not understand is that by not greeting others, they are missing out on a great blessing, and the aforementioned tradition has explained how great the rewards are for such an action.

• 1. Tuhaf al-’Uqul, p. 177, Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il, vol. 8, p. 357.