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Monday, April 14, 2014

The Prohibition of Signalling in Greeting

It is reported by at-Tirmidhee that the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Those who imitates others from us, are not from us. Do not resemble the Jews or the Christians; the Jews greet one another by signalling with their fingers and the Christians greet one another by signalling with their hands.”

[Sunnan at-Tirmidhee (2695) in the Chapter of the Disliking of Waving or Signaling in Greeting; classed as Hasan by al-Albaanee in Saheeh at-Tirmidhee]

It says in the well-known book ‘Tuhfah al-Awadhee’, in explanation of this Hadeeth:

“Those who imitates others from us…”: meaning, those who are indifferent to us in what we follow.

“…are not from us”: meaning they are not from our religion.

“Do not resemble the Jews or the Christians…”: repetition here shows the emphasis (of the prohibition).

“…the Jews greet one another by signalling with their fingers and the Christians greet one another by signalling with their hands”: meaning, do not resemble them in every aspect (major or minor) of their religion. Especially in these two mentioned here…Perhaps it is because they differed in the way Salaam was given, pronouncing the words of Salaam, from the time of Aadam which transcended throughout his children, from the Prophets and the pious [Peace be upon them all].

Although this Hadeeth has some weakness in it, what has been reported by an-Nasaa’ee with an acceptable from Jaabir [May Allaah be Pleased with him] strengthens it, as mentioned by Ibn Hajar in al-Fath:

“Do not greet (or give Salaam) in the manner that the Jews do. They bow their heads or wave/signal with their hands.” [Sunnan al-Kubraa (9750)]

An-Nawawee mentioned as a benefit: As for the narration of Asmaa’ bin Yazeed which states, “The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] passed by a group of women in his Masjid who were sitting there, so he waved to them in greeting.”

This narration is proof that one may combine waving with uttering the Salaam. This is because Aboo Dawood add to this narration, “and he greeted them with Salaam.” End quote from an-Nawawee. End quote from Tuhfah.

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

It is not permissible to give Salaam by signalling. The Sunnah is to say ‘As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum’ if one greets or responds. As for signalling, then this is not permissible because it resembles the ways of some of the Kuffaar. Additionally, it opposes the Sharee’ah of Allaah.

However, if one was to wave or signal to another Muslims, and the recipient understands that he is being greeted, perhaps because of the distance between the two, then in this case, if one signals or waves whilst uttering the Salaam, then there is no harm in this.

This is because there is evidence that supports this, such as the situation of a person who is praying. The one who busy in praying Salaah may respond by waving or signalling (to the one who greeting them with Salaam). This has been authenticated in the Sunnah of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him].


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