DAILYREFLECTION
Those who are nearest to Allah are they who are first to give a salutation.
We say hello a dozen times a day, to the neighbour and the parent at the school gate, usually without hearing it leave our mouths. It's friendly, and it asks nothing for the person on the other end.
As-salamu 'alaykum asks Allah to put peace over them, with a word that carries one of His own names, As-Salam, the Source of Peace. Before we've asked them for anything, we've already made du'a for them.
And the more we say, the fuller it gets. Wa rahmatullah asks for His mercy on them, wa barakatuh for His blessings, and with every phrase we add, Allah adds to our reward. One greeting, said in full, and both sides walk away with more than they came with.
It lands better than we expect, too. People enjoy being spoken to more than we tend to guess, and they like us more afterwards than we think. Days with a few more of these small moments tend to be happier ones.
So picture the mum at the school gate who hasn't spoken to another adult since six, or the carer halfway through a twelve-hour shift. We can be the ones who wished them peace, mercy and blessings before they'd done a thing to earn it.
The Prophet ﷺ told his Companions they wouldn't truly believe until they loved one another, and he showed them the way there: spread salam. He ﷺ once greeted a gathering of Muslims, Jews and idol worshippers with it, and Ibrahim (peace be upon him) wished peace on his own father. It's ours to offer to anyone we meet.
First step: with the first person we meet today, at home or on the way out, let's say salam before they do. If they're Muslim, let's give them the whole thing.
Reflect on this: Whose morning could our salam change today?