Greet with a Better Greeting, When Greeted

Lesson # 537 From Holy Qur’an

Greet with a Better Greeting, When Greeted

Surah Nisaaa’ (Women) - Chapter - 4)

Verses –86 & 87 of 176, Section – 11/24 (Part One-Half – 5)

86.  When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh account of all things. 87.  Allah! There is no God save Him. He will gather you all unto a Day of Resurrection whereof there is no doubt. And who is more true in statement than Allah?

86.  Wa  ‘izaa  huyyii-tum- bi-tahiyyatin-  fahayyuu  bi-‘ahsana  minhaaa  ‘aw  rudduuhaa.  ‘In-nAllaaha  kaana  ‘alaa  kulli  shay- ‘in Hasiibaa. 87.  ‘Allaahu  laaa  ‘ilaaha  ‘illaa  Huu.  Layajma-‘annakum  ‘ilaa  Yawmil-Qiyaamati  laa  rayba  fiih.  Wa  man  ‘asdaqu  minAllaahi  hadiisaa.

Lesson

Tahiyyata  - (Greeting), this word has some other meanings also, for example; compliments, tribute of any good thing, blessing, benediction, present and gift etc. Here it means ‘to bless, pray and greet for, and compliments. To say the person, who is being addressed ‘Assalaamu ‘alaykum is to bless or to pray for him/her. Meaning of this blessing is that you prayed in the Court of Allaah Almighty for his/her safety.

It has been alleged in the previous verse that the person, who intervenes in a good cause, will have the reward thereof. Here it has been emphasized that it is your duty to wish excellence also for them who are your well-wishers. But you would have to wish for them better than what they have wished for you. If anybody says you ‘Assalaamu ‘alaykum, which means ‘May Allaah Almighty keep you safe, then you should reply him in the words ‘Wa ‘Alaykumus-Salaam’. This reply is equal to that, what he said. But you can say better in reply also as ‘Wa ‘Alaykumus-Salaam wa RahmatUllaah’, which aims ‘May Allaah Almighty keep you safe and reveal upon you His Mercy’. And if the person, who greets you says ‘Wa ‘Alaykumus-Salaam wa RahmatUllaah, then you should reply in these words ‘Wa ‘Alaykumus-Salaam wa RahmatUllaahi wa  Barakaatu Huu. This reply will be better than what he said. That is to say; May Allaah Almighty keep you safe and reveal upon you His Mercy and blessings’.

Then commanded that “Lo! Allah taketh account of all things”. He will not destroy any goodness (even a little) of anybody, but the reward of goodness will be paid in both (this world and the Hereafter).      

Every human being should understand that there is neither any God, nor Worshipped save Allaah Almighty and nor is any partner of Him. So He can retaliate as better and excellent reward of good deeds as He Wishes. None can stop Him. He has decided that He will bring you all again to life after death and gather to a Day of Resurrection whereof there is no doubt. The retaliation of goodness, which the people received in this world, that is not sufficient. Full reward will be bestowed upon all on the Doomsday and nobody will be disappointed. There is no accommodation for doubt because what Allaah Almighty says that is true. Moreover, who is more true in statement than Allaah Almighty. Therefore, it is necessary to believe in Him.  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English  by Muhammad Sharif).