The Meaning of the Hadith: "If He Greets, He Greets Three Times"

The questioner : The hadith I mentioned earlier is the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that may be confusing to some people: "If he greets, he greets three times." What is the reconciliation?

The Shaykh : Reconciliation between what and what?

The questioner : Between your statement that he used to greet with a single greeting to the group, and this hadith which states that he used to greet three times if he greeted?

The Shaykh : Where is the contradiction?

The questioner : That he said three times.

The Shaykh : The number is ten, so he greeted three times. Does he, for example, (peace be upon him) greet ten times?

The questioner : I did not understand.

The Shaykh : The one who enters the gathering and greets every person sitting there; this contradicts your hadith.

The questioner : It contradicts.

The Shaykh : So where is the contradiction?

The questioner : The contradiction is that it may be confusing to some people that he greets with only a single greeting.

The Shaykh : A single greeting, meaning one greeting. I have two answers. The first answer is that he does not greet every individual when he enters; he says "Peace be upon you" and moves on, that is fine. The second answer is that you think the Messenger (peace be upon him), when he entered a gathering, would say "Peace be upon you, peace be upon you, peace be upon you."

The questioner : No, rather he asks for permission when the purpose of asking for permission is achieved.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Is there asking for permission here?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh: May Allah forgive you.

The questioner : ... I wanted to bring up this hadith so that it becomes clear.

The Shaykh : ... .