The Meaning of the Hadith That the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) Used to Say the Closing Salam Three Times
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The Shaykh: O our Shaykh, regarding Taim's first research, the benefit in it is a sound hadith . Imam al-Nawawi in *Al-Adhkar* quotes from some of the people of knowledge, perhaps al-Mawardi, if my memory serves me correctly. He says, "And his saying the salam three times was sometimes to single out certain people with the greeting,..." and it was not a constant practice, meaning he says this, but rather it was a specific designation. So if there are twenty people in the gathering, he would say the salam, and then after the third or fourth person, he would say "Peace be upon you" and so on. So is this interpretation correct? If not, what is the correct understanding?
The Shaykh: First, is it a mention of a gathering?
The questioner: No, through the explanation, meaning this means.
The Shaykh: So where did you derive that there is a gathering?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: So now we are ready to understand exactly what al-Nawawi quoted. What I understood are two things. The first thing I mentioned earlier with caution is the gathering. The other thing is that he used to single out some of them with the salam, not all of them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: Okay, first, if we accept this, it has absolutely no relation to our previous topic. It has absolutely no relation to our previous topic, because the issue that with every handshake there is a salam is not attested to at all. So let us come to this specific designation. We ask: Is it an opinion and independent reasoning of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), or did he come to it with evidence?
The questioner: It is an opinion and independent reasoning... with evidence?
The Shaykh: If it came with evidence, then we follow the evidence. And if it is merely an opinion, then I say it is not necessary that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying the salam three times and repeating the word three times was for the sake of singling out and preferring some over others. Rather, it was for the sake of need, which is confirmed by the fact that he repeated the word three times. Just as he was certain that he did not do this constantly, we say likewise that the general Sunnah indicates that he did not do this constantly. We say rather that he used to say the salam three times and repeat the word three times, and he explained in the same hadith why? So that it would be understood from him. So the repetition of the word is clear here for the need of making it understood. So we say that the repetition of the salam may also be for the same need. And what is in my mind at this moment is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to repeat the salam three times when he knocked on the door to ask for permission to enter. It is also heard from him. But if he met one of his Companions or a group of his Companions, it was not narrated from him at all. Rather, he would start with this. If someone said to him, "Peace be upon you, peace be upon you, peace be upon you." But from behind the door, in the way of asking for permission, it is good to triple the salam here. This is what I understand from this hadith, and it is not for the sake of singling out, which entails what? Preferring and favoring one person with a certain treatment over another person.
The questioner: I mean, O our Shaykh, what you mentioned, my teacher, when you said: it is for asking permission. I mean, it is also from the category of independent reasoning and combining texts.
The Shaykh: No, it is so.
The questioner: It is so, yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The questioner: A question, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Please.
He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say the salam three times when he said the salam, and when he spoke, he would speak three times so that it would be understood from him.
كان عليه الصلاة والسلام إذا سلّم سلّم ثلاثًا وإذا تكلم تكلم ثلاثًا ليفُهم عنهThe Shaykh: First, is it a mention of a gathering?
The questioner: No, through the explanation, meaning this means.
The Shaykh: So where did you derive that there is a gathering?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: So now we are ready to understand exactly what al-Nawawi quoted. What I understood are two things. The first thing I mentioned earlier with caution is the gathering. The other thing is that he used to single out some of them with the salam, not all of them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh: Okay, first, if we accept this, it has absolutely no relation to our previous topic. It has absolutely no relation to our previous topic, because the issue that with every handshake there is a salam is not attested to at all. So let us come to this specific designation. We ask: Is it an opinion and independent reasoning of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), or did he come to it with evidence?
The questioner: It is an opinion and independent reasoning... with evidence?
The Shaykh: If it came with evidence, then we follow the evidence. And if it is merely an opinion, then I say it is not necessary that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying the salam three times and repeating the word three times was for the sake of singling out and preferring some over others. Rather, it was for the sake of need, which is confirmed by the fact that he repeated the word three times. Just as he was certain that he did not do this constantly, we say likewise that the general Sunnah indicates that he did not do this constantly. We say rather that he used to say the salam three times and repeat the word three times, and he explained in the same hadith why? So that it would be understood from him. So the repetition of the word is clear here for the need of making it understood. So we say that the repetition of the salam may also be for the same need. And what is in my mind at this moment is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to repeat the salam three times when he knocked on the door to ask for permission to enter. It is also heard from him. But if he met one of his Companions or a group of his Companions, it was not narrated from him at all. Rather, he would start with this. If someone said to him, "Peace be upon you, peace be upon you, peace be upon you." But from behind the door, in the way of asking for permission, it is good to triple the salam here. This is what I understand from this hadith, and it is not for the sake of singling out, which entails what? Preferring and favoring one person with a certain treatment over another person.
The questioner: I mean, O our Shaykh, what you mentioned, my teacher, when you said: it is for asking permission. I mean, it is also from the category of independent reasoning and combining texts.
The Shaykh: No, it is so.
The questioner: It is so, yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The questioner: A question, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Please.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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