BENEFIT: Addition of ومغفرته when responding to Salām

Question: Has the addition of "wa maghfiratuhu" (and His forgiveness) in the Salām authentically established? And should it be used when responding to Salām, in light of Allāh’s command: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with one better than it, or (at least) return it (in like manner)" [Sūrah An-Nisā: 86]? Sheikh Rashād Adh-Dhali'ee ḥafidhahullāh responds: According to our knowledge, this additional phrase ("wa maghfiratuhu") has been reported in some narrations, but all of them are weak. Furthermore, some of the Companions (may Allāh be pleased with them) objected to adding it in the Salām. It is authentically narrated that someone entered upon Ibn ’Abbās or Ibn ’Umar(1) (may Allāh be pleased with them) and gave Salām to him [with an additional phrase], so he responded: "The Salām ends at ‘wa barakatuhu’ (and His blessings).” This (i.e. stopping at وبركاته) is what has come in numerous authentic ḥadīths. It is reported that a man entered and said: "As-salāmu ’alaykum" (peace be upon you), and the Prophet ﷺ returned the greeting and said: "Ten (rewards for it).” Then another person entered and said: "As-salāmu ’alaykum wa raḥmatullāh" (peace be upon you and Allāh’s mercy), and the Prophet responded and said: "Twenty." Then a third person entered and said: "As-salāmu ’alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu" (peace be upon you, Allāh’s mercy, and His blessings), and the Prophet responded and said: "Thirty." Additionally, it is narrated in Sahih Al-Bukhāri and Sahih Muslim that when Allah created Ādam, He commanded him: "Go to that group of angels and greet them with peace." Ādam went and said: "As-salāmu ’alaykum," to which the angels replied: "Wa ’alaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāh," adding "wa raḥmatullāh" to the greeting. The addition of "wa barakātuhu" is confirmed in other authentic hadiths. Thus, the greeting of peace ends at "wa barakātuhu." One may ask: If someone greets me by saying, "As-salāmu ’alaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu," how can I respond with something better, as the Āyah commands? The answer is that in this case, the only option is to respond in kind, as there is no room for further addition. However, if someone greets you with "As-salāmu ’alaykum" or "As-salāmu ’alaykum wa raḥmatullāh," you can respond with better by adding to it, thereby fulfilling the Qurānic command. But if the greeting already includes "wa barakātuhu," then the appropriate response is to return it exactly as it was given. Allāh knows best. ___ (1) The objection is authentic to both, as recorded by Mālik in his Muwaṭṭa’ (3/ 132 - 134)and Al-Bayhaqi in 'Shu’ab'. They cited as evidence the Salām of the angels in the Āyah: ﴿رَحۡمَتُ ٱللهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَیۡكُمۡ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡبَیۡتِۚ﴾ [Surah Hūd: 73] #فوائد_تربوية #Tarbiyah@masjidsahabah