Returning The Salâms With A Gesture When Praying
Darussalam · Volume 2
13. [The Book Of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)]Sunan an-Nasai Darussalam English translation
الحديث: 1186 ¦ الجزء: 3 ¦ الصفحة: 5
Source no. 1186 · Volume 3 · Page 330
Sahih
صحيح الترمذي (٣٦٧)
Source no. 1135 · Volume 1 · Page 257
Sahih
(صحيح) - الترمذي ٣٦٧.
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1187. It was narrated that Suhaib, the Companion of the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ, said: "I passed by the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ when he was praying, and greeted him with Salâm. He returned my greeting with a gesture, or maybe it was just with his finger." (Sahîh)
1186 - أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ نَابِلٍ، صَاحِبِ الْعَبَاءِ، عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ صُهَيْبٍ صَاحِبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَرَرْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ إِشَارَةً، وَلَا أَعْلَمُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ»
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The narrations recorded in this chapter indicate that in early Islam, speaking within prayer was permissible according to need. In this perspective, some Companions greeted the Prophet ﷺ while he was performing the prayer. But by that time, speaking within prayer had already been forbidden. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ, therefore, did not return the greeting verbally but returned it by a gesture. As for the issue, in what way should one gesture in response, four ways have been mentioned in different narrations - with one's palm, with one's hand, with one's finger, and with one's head. Therefore, all these ways are permissible. (See Awn al-Ma'būd: the Chapter: "Returning the Salām During the prayer").