ICC | Jummah at ICC has never been a bad experience, per se, today is no exception. The talk was relevant, brief, and to the point. I actually enjoyed this khutbah, it's nice to listen to good khutbahs from time to time, it instills a sense of hope for the Ummah at large. Wouldn't you say? Anyway, go ahead, read on. |

Dear brothers and sisters,
As we know every culture has a form of greeting.
Before the advent of Islam, the Arabs used to greet each other saying essentially "Good morning". When Islam came, Allah commanded that Muslims should greet each other with "Salam". This was not just a tradition of the prophets but also the angels.
When the angels came to meet Ibrahim (A) they said Assalamu Alaikum (Upon you be peace), this is in the Qur'an and he replied Wa Alaikum Salam.
This greeting is the greeting the angels will say the people of paradise. [Confusing sentence]
When the angels entered into the people of paradise from every gate, they will say Salam, peace.
For you had patience, endured suffering, and were persecuted for loving Allah, peace be unto you, excellent is the final home.
Salam is the greeting of the human being, but since most people have deviated from gods path. [Incomplete thought]
Imam Bukhari and Muslim narrated: When Abraham was created Allah ordered him to go to the group of angels and say "Assalamu Alaikum", whatever their reply will be the greeting of your people. He did this and they replied "Wa Alaikum Salam Wa Rahmatullah".
Abraham and Jesus were Muslims.
God commands the believers to say Salam to each other. O believers do not enter other people's house until you have been given permission and have said Salam to the people within.
When you enter houses say Salam unto yourself. It is blessed. When we enter our houses we should say Salam, even if no one is in the house.
When we enter the houses of our friends and relatives we first ask permission and then say Salam.
Saying Salam wherever we meet, that will create love and peace between people. Creating brotherhood. It means you care for your brother and love your brother.
The prophet says you will not enter into paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love your brother, love for them what we love for yourselves.
If we want to be scholars or rich, we must love that for our brother.
How can we love each other? If you say Salam you will love each other, the Prophet (S) said.
What is the best thing for a Muslim to do? Feeding others and saying Salam to those you know and don't know.
Do not single out anybody in a group out of arrogance or to impress them. Just say Salam to each of them.
The complete form of Salam is Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
A man said Salam to the Prophet (S) and then sat down, the Prophet said "10 rewards", a second man came and said "Assalamu Alaikum", the Prophet said "20 rewards", then a third man came and said "Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu", the Prophet said, "30 rewards". So we know this is the best version of greeting someone.
Saying Salam is highly recommended, it is a Sunnah al Muaqadah. It's not obligatory to initiate the Salam but it is obligatory to return the Salam.
There is etiquette also for saying Salam. The one who is riding says Salam to the one walking, the one walking says Salam to the one sitting, the smaller group says Salam to the larger group, the younger one say Salam to the older one.
Shaking hands is encouraged, there are no two Muslims that shake hands whose sins are not forgiven before they are parted, the Prophet (S) said.
When a Muslim or believer meets a fellow believer and says Salam and shakes their hands their sins will fall like leaves from a tree.
Imam Abu Dawud Tirmidhi said, if one of you joins a group, you should say Salam, and when he leaves should also say Salam. The first Salam is not better than the last.
When the Prophet (S) migrated to Madinah and the Muslims escaped the persecution of the Qur'aysh and the Prophet was establishing a Muslim state, one of the first things the Prophet said was "O people offer Salam, spread the Salam and feed others and be nice and kind to your relatives and pray in the night when others are sleeping, you will enter into paradise with peace."
All the above can be difficult but saying Salam is not difficult. It's important to note that saying the Salam was included in that list of important things to do.
He didn't say anything nutty or outlandish. It was a good one, and quite relevant since many people tend to not offer Salam, especially to people they don't know. Which is just strange. Clearly they mean you no harm if they are wishing peace upon you, so no need to be weirded out or afraid. I've seen this happen primarily when a group of Muslim men, specifically, are sitting in the mosque and someone that is althogether different from them offers them salam they tend to not respond to that man, although they will stare at him, which is exhibiting terrible manners. Not only do they not respond in kind, but they also stare at the poor guy, as if he's an alien. It's quite rude to stare at people, so don't do it!
But that's it for this khutbah, made my life easy, didn't have to spend hours looking through books to debunk nonsense. You think this is easy? Haha, if I wanted to be like those bad khatibs I would pull things out of my arse too, but I tend to not. I look up valid sources and scour through books until I have the appropriate citations, it takes a LONG time. But, I do it for you, in the hopes that you will all benefit. It's a labor of love, and of exposing ignorance.
Good luck and God Speed!