𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (57)

What is the ruling on adding ومغفرته “and His forgiveness” when replying to Salam? Sheikh Rashad Adh-Dhali'ee hafidhahullah said: This wording has been reported through several chains of narration, but all of them are weak. When examined together, they do not strengthen each other. However, we can use as supporting evidence what has come from statements reported from the Companions. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that they said: “The greeting ends with blessings.” They also used as evidence the Ayah in the Qur’an: {رَحۡمَتُ ٱللهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَیۡكُمۡ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡبَیۡتِ} “The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, O people of the house.”[Surah Hūd: 73] This Ayah appears in the story of Prophet Lut. Because of this, those Companions used to issue fatwa that the salam ends with “and His blessings.” Some of them relied on this Ayah as proof. Someone might ask: what about the Ayah: {وَإِذَا حُیِّیتُم بِتَحِیَّةࣲ فَحَیُّوا۟ بِأَحۡسَنَ مِنۡهَاۤ أَوۡ رُدُّوهَاۤ} “When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it, or return it (in the same manner).” [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 86] If someone says to me: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته “Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings,” how can I reply with something better than that? The answer is that in this case a person can only reply with the same greeting. It is possible to reply with something better only when the greeting was shorter. For example, if someone says السلام عليكم “Peace be upon you,” or السلام عليكم ورحمة الله “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah,” then you may respond with something better by adding more. But if the Muslim has already given the complete greeting — السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings” — then the one replying has no option except to return the same greeting. And Allah knows best. Source: https://t.me/madrasatuna/6004