Making Salaam to Women

MAKING SALAAM TO WOMEN

The Islamic greeting of "Assalaamu alaikum wa rahamatullahi wabarakatuhu" is indeed the highest and holiest form of greeting. It is a dua for the Rahmat of Allah Ta'ala. The one who greets in actual fact supplicates that Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy and bestows His protection on the one being greeted. The Islamic salutation is a pledge of safety and protection offered to the one being greeted. In spite of this noble aim and holiness of the Islamic Salaam, the Shariah has ordered that men do not greet ghair mahraam females and females do not greet ghair mahram males. It is Sunnat to initiate the Salaam. When a Muslim meets another Muslim, it is an act of great merit and thawaab to greet him. The one who greets first is superior in relation to thawaab. Although it is Sunnat to greet, it is Waajib (compulsory) to reply to the Salaam. In spite of this significance and importance of Salaam and its reply, the Shariah has waived the obligation of replying to the Salaam of ghair mahaareem. Not only has the Shariah waived the obligation, but it has made it unlawful to reply. This prohibition indicates the high standard of moral purity and piety of the heart demanded by Islam. This verdict of the Shariah is stated in Shaami in the following words "The salaams of a voting woman should not be answered verbally.

The same applies to a man (i.e. if he makes salaam to a woman, she should not verbally reply" When a Muslim sneezes, it is Sunnat for him/her to say: "Alhamdulillah". Although it is Sunnat for the sneezer to say so, it is Waajib upon the hearer to say: "Yarhamu kallaah" (May Allah have mercy on you). But, this obligation has been waived in relation to ghair mahaareem in the same way as applicable to the
Islamic salutation. When Hijaab restrictions are applied by the Shariah to even acts of Ibaadat, then to a greater measure will such restrictions be applicable to mundane activity which invites participation by the sexes.