We already mentioned that the Arabic word Salam which is used in the Islamic greeting Assalam alaikum means peace, and we also stated that it is one of God’s names. The last three verses of surah 59 include no less than 16 of God’s names and attributes. One of these is Salam, which is the root word for peace. How are we to understand this usage?
Translators of the Qur’an differ in trying to render this attribute of God. One of them renders it as ‘God is the Salvation’, while another uses ‘The giver of peace’, and a third ‘The source of peace.’ They are not far from the meaning, but the Arabic usage which indicates that ‘God is peace’ carries far more connotations than any of these renderings. To an Arab Muslim it implies that whatever promotes peace pleases God, who gives peace to everyone and every community that maintains and works for it.
This concept is emphasized by the Prophet in several Hadiths of which we will quote two here. The first is reported by Anas ibn Malik who quotes the Prophet as saying: “Salam is one of God’s names which He placed on earth. Therefore, spread Salam (i.e. peace) among yourselves.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Al-Tabarani) This means that peace is the state of affairs God wants to see on earth. Within the Muslim community God has made the best greeting the one which uses this name of His, in the form of Assalam alaikum, or peace be to you. When one person says to another, it immediately generates an air of peace and tranquillity between them, even though they may be at odds with each other.
To emphasize this feeling, and the significance of this one of God’s names, the Prophet taught us the following formula to say in our supplication: “Our Lord, You are peace, and peace emanates from You, and to You all peace returns, so greet us, our Lord, with the greeting of peace.” This form of prayer begins with praising God by His attribute of peace, and ends with an appeal to Him to give us a greeting that spreads peace within and among us. Indeed, people and communities greatly value a state of peace, because it gives them a sense of security and reassurance. Nevertheless, when states and politicians feel themselves to be powerful and immune from retaliation, they disturb peace and engineer a state of war. No ruler who led his country into an unnecessary war is considered truly great. He might have been considered so at the time of his triumph. He may also be remembered as brave or a man of great determination, but people do not associate human greatness with war, not even with winning it. It is always the leader who ends war and ensures peace that is considered great.
The second Hadith we need to consider in connection with this attribute of God is reported by Abdullah ibn Massoud who says: “People were praying with the Prophet when he heard one of the worshippers saying, ‘Salam to Allah,’ or ‘Peace to God.’ When he finished his prayer, the Prophet said to the congregation: ‘Who is the one who said, ‘peace to God’? It is God who is peace. You better say: ‘Greetings are offered to God, together with blessings and all good things. Peace be to you, Prophet, with God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be to us and to all righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no deity other than God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s messenger.’ They used to learn this form in the same way as they learned the Qur’an.” (Related in all six collections of authentic Hadiths.)
These are the words we say everyday, at least nine times in our five obligatory prayers. We say them many more times if we offer voluntary, or Sunnah, prayers as we are strongly recommended to do.
The Prophet first points out that it is wrong to offer a greeting to God in the same way as we offer greetings to one another, particularly the one using His name, Salam. Instead the Prophet teaches us that greeting God is done by grouping all greetings used by human beings in all cultures, and adding also blessings and all good things. Needless to say, this is for our benefit, because it is a fact that all good things belong to God. We are only reiterating these in acknowledgment of our position in relation to God.
Secondly we address our greeting to the Prophet, using the second person form, as though he is with us. Moreover, we say this in private, in all situations, even when we are alone in the depth of the night, or in broad daylight in the middle of the desert. This gives our greeting an element of intimacy, because we know that our greeting to the Prophet is delivered to him by God, although we do not know how. It also emphasizes the Prophet’s position and the way all Muslims love him, remembering him always in their prayer and requesting God to grant him His blessings and grace.
The next part stresses the community feeling among all Muslims. But we note here that we first offer the greeting to ourselves and then include all God’s righteous servants. This is the proper way which the Prophet used, because it reflects man’s true feelings. Every human being thinks first of himself, praying for his or her own happiness. We include others only after we have sought what we need from God: forgiveness, mercy, happiness, ample provisions, etc. But then we should remember all those with whom we are bound by the tie of faith. In this respect, we should remember all prophets, angels and true believers who abide by God’s law and follow His guidance.
Next we declare our belief in God’s oneness and the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This comes in the form which is used to declare one’s acceptance of the Islamic faith, bearing witness to the two most fundamental principles: all Godhead belongs to God alone with no partners, and Muhammad’s role as God’s servant and messenger who conveys to us God’s message and guidance. Thus, we accept nothing from any other source, because this is the only source through which God explains His guidance. It is not merely through verbal teachings that the Prophet instructs us how to offer our worship and how to serve God, but he also gives us practical example. He was the perfect example which we will do well to follow in order to achieve happiness both in this life and in the life to come.
Arab News Islam 10 January 2003
