The Greeting of Peace: A Divine Increment in Rewards

The hadith narrated by Haḍrat Imrān ibn Ḥusayn (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) is a profound and elegant teaching from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that illuminates the spiritual and social significance of the Islamic greeting. It is more than a simple narration; it is a lesson in the power of words, the generosity of divine reward, and the cultivation of a compassionate community.

The Hadith Text and Its Immediate Meaning

The sequence described is clear and deliberate:

1. The First Man: Greets with “As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum” (Peace be upon you). The Prophet ﷺ responds and then announces: “Ten rewards.”
2. The Second Man: Enhances the greeting to “As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa Raḥmatullāh” (Peace and the Mercy of Allah be upon you). The Prophet ﷺ responds and says: “Twenty rewards.”
3. The Third Man: Offers the most complete form: “As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh” (Peace, the Mercy of Allah, and His Blessings be upon you). The Prophet ﷺ responds and declares: “Thirty rewards.”

At its most immediate level, the hadith establishes a direct correlation between the comprehensiveness of the salutation and the spiritual reward it attracts. Each additional phrase—invoking Allah’s Raḥmah (Mercy) and Barakāh (Blessings)—multiplies the divine recompense.

Deeper Lessons and Insights

Beyond the arithmetic of rewards, this hadith contains layers of wisdom:

1. The Principle of Divine Generosity (Jūd):
Allah is Al-Karīm(The Most Generous). This hadith demonstrates that His system of reward is not meager but abundant and encouraging. He could have simply commanded the best form of greeting, but instead, He, through His Prophet ﷺ, showed a gradation—meeting people where they are and encouraging them to do better through the promise of increased reward. This reflects the merciful nature of Islamic law, which often elevates and encourages rather than just commands and forbids.

2. Salām as a Du’a (Supplication) and a Social Act:
The greeting ofSalām is not merely a “hello.” It is a powerful prayer you offer to your fellow Muslim. You are sincerely asking Allah to grant that person safety, peace, divine mercy, and abundance. By elongating the greeting, one is essentially expanding the scope of this beautiful prayer for their brother or sister. The Prophet’s ﷺ commentary teaches us to be conscious of the weight our words carry.

3. Cultivating a Culture of Love and Goodwill:
Imagine a society where every encounter begins not with a transactional or casual greeting,but with a sincere prayer for the other’s well-being. This was the society the Prophet ﷺ built. By encouraging this enhanced greeting, he was fostering an environment of mutual care, love, and spiritual connection. When you pray for peace, mercy, and blessings upon others, you soften your own heart and diminish feelings of envy or hatred.

4. The Etiquette of Initiation and Response:
The hadith also subtly reinforces the Sunnah of initiating theSalām and the obligation of responding to it. The Prophet ﷺ meticulously returned each greeting, showing that no matter how simple or elaborate the Salām, it deserves a full and respectful response. In fact, the Quran mandates that the response should be “better than or at least equal to” the original greeting (Surah An-Nisa, 4:86). The response “Wa ‘Alaykum as-Salām wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh” is precisely that—a better or equal return.

5. A Reflection of a Believer’s State:
The three levels can also be seen as reflecting the spiritual state of the one greeting.The basic Salām is the foundation of faith. Adding Raḥmatullāh reflects a heart that seeks and acknowledges the need for Allah’s all-encompassing mercy. Including Barakātuh demonstrates a desire for not just safety and mercy, but for lasting goodness, growth, and divine grace in every aspect of life. It is the greeting of one who seeks comprehensive goodness for themselves and others.

Conclusion: A Practical Spirituality

This hadith from Sunan Abī Dāwūd is a masterpiece of practical spirituality. It takes an everyday, universal action—greeting another person—and infuses it with profound spiritual meaning and immense divine reward. It teaches us that excellence in Islam (Iḥsān) can be found in the simplest of acts.

Therefore, a Muslim is encouraged to consciously adopt the complete form of the greeting: “As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh.” In doing so, they not only secure a greater reward for themselves but also contribute to building a community bound by prayers, peace, and mutual goodwill, exactly as our beloved Prophet ﷺ intended. It is a small change in habit that carries the weight of immense blessings, transforming a common social exchange into an act of worship and a means of drawing closer to the Divine.