On Friday September 3rd, 2004 Huzur(aba) delivered the sermon at Zurich, Switzerland. After Sura Al-Fatiha Huzur(aba) recited verses 28 and 29 of Sura Al-Nur. The translation is:
O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own until you have asked leave and saluted the inmates thereof. That is better for you that you may be heedful.
And if you find no one therein, do not enter them until you are given permission. And if it be said to you, ‘Go back,’ then go back; that is purer for you. And Allah knows well what you do. (24:28-29)
Every society has certain etiquettes that are observed when meeting each other. People who greet each other nicely are considered to be civilized. When these people meet each other they do so with a smile on their faces. Even if they do not know each other there is an expression of kindness on their faces. And people who do not great others nicely are considered to have bad manners.
There are different ways in which people of different cultures greet each other. Some bow their heads, some join their hands and raise them up to their faces, some shake hands with each other and so on. However, Islam has taught has that when believers meet each other they should greet each other by saying ‘Salaam’ (peace) to each other. This is a prayer of peace and blessing upon each other that would result in the development of love and harmony among the society.
Huzur(aba) stated that the Islamic society should be a peaceful and gentle society. If you visit someone’s home and due to some circumstances you are not greeted as you expected and are told to go back then you should do so without harboring any ill feelings. And if this should be your practice then you would be promoting peace and harmony in the society. Huzur(aba) state that the two verses recited at the beginning of the sermon contain wonderful teachings for the establishment of a peaceful Islamic society. First thing that is mentioned is that the freedom to enter a dwelling is limited to your own home. You cannot just wander into someone else’s house. This will save you from a lot of complications. If you need to visit someone then you should take permission before entering someone’s home. There are lots of benefits of taking permission. The lack thereof can give rise to accusations of immorality. You could be accused of stealing. Therefore, it should not be a matter of ego to take permission. It is for your own good and for keeping a healthy relationship with the person you are visiting.
The important thing to remember is the manner in which permission should be sought. The Holy Quran says that you should say Salaam aloud and then seek permission. This is the way to keep yourself pure and also to send peace and blessings on the people in the house. The saying of the Salaam should also remind you that since you have sent the message of peace then you must try to remain at peace with those people. And when your Salaam is answered with Salaam this increases the feelings of love amongst the two parties.
Huzur(aba) related a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Jabir(ra) where he visited the Holy Prophet saw concerning the matter of a loan his father had taken. When he knocked on the door, the Holy Prophet saw enquired as to who was at the door. Hazrat Jabir(ra) replied ‘It is I’. The Holy Prophet saw was not pleased that Hazrat Jabir(ra) introduced himself without first saying Salaam. There is a clear instruction of Allah as stated in the Holy Quran Verse 62 of Sura Al-Nur, the translation of which is:
When you enter houses, slaute your people with greetings of peace – a greeting from your Lord, full of blessing and purity. (24:62)
Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) has stated that this verse exhorts us to say the Salaam to our family and friends whenever we enter into our homes and remember that the Salaam you say is not merely an utterance of your mouth, but it is a great gift from Allah. There is Allah’s promise of peace imbedded in this Salaam. Thus when you say Salaam to your brother you are conveying Allah’s promise of peace and Allah’s blessings to him. Alas, most people in our country do not say Salaam when they enter their own homes. They consider that this prayer is reserved for others but not for their own kith and kin.
Huzur(aba) related a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Anas bin Maalik(ra) where he states that the Holy Prophet saw told him, ‘O my son, when you go to your home you should say Salaam to your folks in the house. This will be a source of blessing for you and your family. This amply clarifies that we must say Salaam whenever we enter our own homes. We should be mindful of spreading the message of peace always.
Huzur(aba) stated that Allah has said that in heaven, the believers will glorify Allah and say Salaam to each other for they will be truly aware of the message contained in this wonderful prayer. Hence, if we want to establish a heavenly society here on earth then we must say Salaam to each other. Huzur(aba) stated that in order to establish the practice of saying Salaam to each other we must train our children to say Salaam at each and every occasion. They should say Salaam when they leave the house, when they enter the house. This should become a mandatory part of the children’s training. They should also be taught the meaning and the message contained in Salaam.
Huzur(aba) stated that the instruction to say Salaam when entering a house also applies to women. It would avoid a lot of misunderstandings that can arise if this instruction is not complied with. By saying Salaam aloud you would be announcing your presence in the house thereby facilitating the observance of purdah lest any male should inadvertently walk in where you are present.
It is also stated in the verses recited that if there is no one in the house you are visiting then do not enter that house. Huzur(aba) stated you should only enter a house if you are granted permission. If you said Salaam aloud three times and there is no response from inside, then you are not to enter that house because either there is no one in the house or for some reason your presence at that time is not welcome. According to the Holy Quran, it is better for you to turn back at such occasions.
In a Hadith Hazrat Abu Moosa Asha’ari(ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet saw said, ‘If after seeking permission three times you are not granted permission then you must go back.’ There is no mention of any wrong doing on the part of the person being visited upon. The instruction is only for the visitor that in case of permission not being granted, the visitor must go back.
Huzur(aba) further illustrated the subject with other Ahadith and passages form the writings of the Promised Messiah as. In the end Huzur(aba) urged that all of us should spread this message of peace to others as well as amongst ourselves, thereby creating an atmosphere of love around us. This will open the doors of Allah’s paradise for us where there is eternal peace. May Allah enable us to do so. Aameen.