Response to Courteous Greetings We read in the Holy Qur’an...
Response to Courteous Greetings We read in the Holy Qur’an: وَإِذَا حُيِّيْتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا “When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. God takes careful account of all things.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:86] Greeting each other in any form is the most basic way of expressing kindness to each other.
However, we can also find in the traditions that practical forms of expressing kindness are also a part of the concept of greeting. In Ali ibn Ibrahim’s commentary we read the following tradition quoted on the authority of Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq : “What is meant by a greeting is verbal expression of greetings and any other practical forms of expressing kindness.”[^1] In another tradition in Manaqib we read: “A slave maid brought a flower to give to Imam Hasan .
The Imam returned her favor by freeing her from the bonds of slavery. When asked why, he recited the following verse: وَإِذَا حُيِّيْتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا “When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:86] He then added: “Freeing her was a more courteous greeting.” Thus, we can see that this offering of a more courteous greeting is a general decree that includes both verbal and physical forms of greeting.
Good, the Reward for Good We read the following in the Holy Qur’an: هَلْ جَزَاء الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ “Is there any Reward for Good - other than Good?” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Rahman 55:60] In many of the commentaries on the Qur’an, the good mentioned here in this verse has been interpreted as unity of God, His recognition and submission to God. However, these are clear instances of good. In general, it includes any good deeds or words.
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