Advanced search
Visit
 5937
Last Updated: 2010/08/29
 
Website code number fa10158 Archive code number 9628
group Practical
Summary of question
Why is the resident Aalim of a mosque not returning your salaam?
question
I have a question which I request you to answer: What does it mean to you when the prayer leader of a mosque does not return your salaam? I am asking this question simply because Moulana Rafiq Hussein Naqavi (from India) is the resident Aalim of a mosque (Idara-e-Jaferia Center) in Burtonsville of Maryland State in the US. He is also in charge of overseeing the operations of IIC (Islamic Information Center for the FBI) at this mosque. He and his son have stopped returning my salaam after Friday Prayers. I give them salaam and they do not return it. I wanted to understand what this peculiar treatment means because no Muslim has ever habitually done that to me before in my community.
Concise answer
This question doesn’t have a brief answer. Please click on the detailed answer.
Detailed Answer

Dear user, assure

Salaam means giving assurance of harmlessness and protection to the opposite side in the sense that whoever says salaam wants to tell the other person that I want your well-being and safety and that you should rest assured that you are safe from my side as I will not harm you. I wish you well and that I have no evil, wrong and hostile intention towards you. Also, salaam is one of the names of Allah, and it is a form of greeting exchanged between two Muslims.

There are many hadiths (sayings) concerning salaam from the Infallible Imams (a.s.) of which we suffice to mentioning only one:

Imam Sadiq, (a.s.) says: "One of the signs of humility in a Muslim is that he salutes aloud everyone he meets."[1]

In order to get to an appropriate answer, it is necessary to make mention of the following points:

1. Attending Friday Prayers is a religious and political act. It is an act of worship which is highly recommended and desirable; so it is befitting for you to keep up attending it.

2. Based on the narrations passed on to us from the Infallibles (a.s.), we are duty-bound to regard the best meaning of the actions of our brethren in faith for their positive aspects and that we should have positive and benevolent intentions towards them.

The Commander of Faithful, Ali (a.s.) said: He who puts himself in situations of accusation should not blame those who doubt him. He who conceals his secrets will possess the options. Every secret that exceeds more than two persons will spread. Regard the best meaning of your brother's saying and never search for an ill meaning in his saying if there is a probability of good intention.[2]

For further information about the effects and treatment of pessimism vide answer No. 5311 (site: 5484).

Therefore, there are different probabilities as to why the prayer leader of your mosque did not return your greeting. There is a likelihood that he might not have heard your greeting or he might have returned it but you are likely to have not heard it. It is also likely that he may have been mentally occupied and that something might have engaged his mind on account of which he has not heard you or taken notice of you or he might have thought that someone else would return the greeting, and so on.

3. If possible, before prejudging or becoming suspicious, try to talk to him politely and tell him that you greeted him many times but you did not hear any answers from him.


[1] - Kulayni, Muhammad bin Ya'qub, Al-Kafi, vol.2, p.646, Dar al-Kotub al-Islamiyah, Tehran, 1986.

[2] - Saduq, Al-Amali, Kamrayee, p.304, Islamiyah, Tehran, sixth edition, 1997.

Question translations in other languages
  • : چرا روحانی یک مسجد جواب سلام شما را ندهد؟
    • 7822 Practical 2010/10/06
    کاربر گرامی!   سلام، اطمینان دادن به طرف مقابل است که کسی که سلام می گوید مرادش این است که سلامتى و تندرستى تو را خواستارم و از جانب من آسوده و مطمئن باش، که گزندى به تو نخواهد رسی
Comments
Number of comments 0
Please enter the value
Example : Yourname@YourDomane.ext
Please enter the value
Please enter the value

Random questions

  • Can something emerge from nothing?
    7213 علیت و معلولیت 2012/12/15
    Based on philosophical and mystical principles, creating something out of nothing means that the universe and the entire divine attributes are, in the level of divine essence, vanished in God’s essence with no name, accident or distinction or any quality existing. The level of God’s essence, before ...
  • What is meant by the true and false dawn?
    14760 Laws and Jurisprudence 2009/09/23
    The “true” and “false” dawns are fiqhi/astronomic terms which refer to specific times of day/night. The false dawn is when a white light rises in the east of the sky. Praying the fajr prayer at this time isn't accepted. The true dawn is when the white light spreads ...
  • What are the signs of Imam Zaman’s (as) dhuhur (reappearance) and which ones are reliable?
    12556 Traditional 2008/11/17
    Asking about the “dhuhur” (reappearance) of Imam Zaman (as) and its signs is very good and desirable, yet one mustn’t get so caught up in this matter to the extent that he/she forgets about the true goal which is to prepare for and pave the way for his ...
  • Why is polygamy permissible for men in Islam, yet impermissible for women?
    10893 Philosophy of Religion and Law 2008/09/18
    Before Islam, polygamy was considered normal and lacked any rules or limitations. As one of man’s essential needs, Islam has limited it, giving it specific conditions and terms. Islamic laws are all based on true needs and the benefit of society as a whole. The following needs are ...
  • Is it okay to say kazalikallahu rabbi in the second rak'at after any sura or only Sura-e Ikhlas?
    6975 Laws and Jurisprudence 2011/03/14
    It is Mustahab (recommended) to say “Kazalikallahu Rabbi” after Sura-e Ikhlas once, twice or thrice, in every rak'at in which Sura-e Ikhlas is recited after Sura al-Hamd. Therefore this zikr (recital) is recited only after Sura-e Ikhlas.[1]
  • Is it permissible to use a minor\'s property without his consent?
    5429 Laws and Jurisprudence 2015/05/03
    It is appropriate to explain a few technical terms before dealing with the question: 1. Great scholars have defined the term 'saghir' (minor) as such: Saghir (minor) refers to a child who has not attained puberty. Such a person is not eligible under Shari'ah law to have ...
  • What is the philosophy of Ghusl (ceremonial washing)?
    7931 Philosophy of Religion and Law 2014/06/22
    The reason which is behind the Jinabat Ghusl is to clean and purify our soul from its pollution and purify our body from the impurity. This means, if we want to remove the Jinabat from our body we have to purify all parts of our body. According ...
  • If prayer is the pillar of faith, why is it considered to be part of the branches of religion?
    4049 کلیات 2017/01/21
    The fundaments of faith or principles of religion are the religious tenets which man believes in with his own insight and understanding without relying on others. It is only after believing in those fundamentals of faith that he becomes Muslim and should start fulfilling individual and social ...
  • What is the meaning of Dābat al-Ardh in Surah Naml?
    13194 Exegesis 2012/04/16
    The word Dābat pertains to a moving animal and it can be applied to both human beings, as well as other creatures. Now, the question remains as to what kind of animal has been mentioned in the Quranic verse, as well as its purpose. The Quran ...
  • How old was Imam Ali (AS) on the day of Ghadir?
    9004 غدیر خم 2013/12/09
    The event of Ghadir took place on the tenth of the hegira year but there are different views about Imam Ali's date of birth. However, if we are to determine the Imam's date of birth, it depends on which report is considered to be stronger and more ...

Popular

Links

Developed by   AfarineshWeb