216. When You Enter Your Home

By Asma bint Shameem 

Allaah says:

“But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah (i.e. say: As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum — peace be on you), blessed and good” (Surah an-Noor:61)

From this ayah we know when we enter our homes, it's good if we say Assalaamu Alaikum. 

But do we say that even when there's nobody home?

‘Abdullah bin Umar radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“If one enters a house while it is empty, then let him say: 

السَّلامُ عَلَينا وَعَلىٰ عِبادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِين

[as-Salaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaah as-saalihin]

‘Peace be upon us, and upon Allah’s righteous slaves.'” 

[‘Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad’ 806]

Ibn Hajar said:

“The command to spread greetings of peace includes greetings one’s own self when one enters a place in which there is nobody else present, for Allaah said:

{“But when you enter the houses, greet one another (literally, greet yourselves)..”} [an-Nur; 61].”

[‘Fath al-Bari’; 11/22]

Al-Qurtubi said

"If there is a Muslim person in the house he should say 

اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكاتًُه 

“As-salaamu Alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu 

(peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allaah, and His blessings).” 

If there is no one there, he should say, 

السَّلامُ عَلَينا وَعَلىٰ عِبادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِين

“Al-salaamu 'Alaynaa wa 'alaa ‘ibaad-Illaahis-saaliheen 

(peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allaah).”

Mujaahid said: 

"When you enter the *masjid*, say, 

اَلسَّلامُ عَلىٰ رَسُولِ الله 

“Al-salaam ‘ala Rasool-Illaah 

(Peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah),” 

and when you enter upon your family, greet them with salaam, 

and when you enter a house in which there is no one, say 

السَّلامُ عَلَينا وَعَلىٰ عِبادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِين

“As-salaamu ‘Alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaad-Illaahis-saaliheen 

(peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allaah).” 

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 3/306)

Let's keep up this practice and earn easy rewards.