Therefore even with regard to the the Holy Prophet(s) who...

Therefore even with regard to the the Holy Prophet(s) who enjoys the highest level of perfection, the invitation is open. Rather it is open both in this world as well as the Hereafter. Seeking The Absolute State Of-Salam Sometimes when the article 'al' denotes genus, it can be taken to mean 'the absolute sense'. This is because no particular kind of peace is mentioned. Therefore it is taken to mean peace without any kind of particulairy of limitation.

And this is the highest form of peace, which no one save Almighty Allah enjoys. The Holy Qur'an says: هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لا إِلهَ إِلا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ... …He is Allah, other than Whom there is no god, He alone is the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Absolute Peace [^60] Nevertheless the human beings are taught to seek such peace for the obedient servants of Almighty Allah.

Look at the following verses: وَقُل الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى Say, All praise belongs to Allah, and Peace [in the absolute sense] be to His servants whom He has chosen [^61] It should be noted however that the human being whatever level of peace he would attain would never reach the absolute sense, which is only coherent with the Absolute Perfect Being Who is Essentially Existent.

Seeking the same for others, would in reality be seeking higher stages of Salam for them. And this journey of Salam, according to masters of the field, would neither end in this world nor in the Hereafter. In short, the path from the finite to the infinite by the Infinite is Infinite.

SEEKING AN ATTRIBUTE OF ALLAH FOR OTHERS Al-Salam, as we came to learn, earlier is one of the Attributes of Almighty Allah, which some of his noble servants, like the infallible Imams of the ('a), due to their utter submission enjoyed. The path for others too is left open. Every human being is invited to the abode of peace, and therefore he/she must strive to attain the same. But a true beliver has an all-embracing heart, and thus yearns for the betterment of others too.

Perhaps that is why we are encouraged to greet others with al-Salam. The Holy Prophet (s) is reported to have said: السّلاَمُ اِسْم مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللهِ تَعَالى فَافْشُوهُ بَيْنَكُمْ. Al-Salam is a Name from among the Names of Almighty Allah; therefore, spread the same between you…[^62] In fact the word Muslim has originally been derived from Allah's name al-Salam.

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