2026-05-31 - Lefke
Our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) said: "Which deeds are the best in the sight of Allah?"
It is to bring relief, joy, and inner peace to the heart of a believer.
When a believer sees another and smiles at him, it fills his heart with tranquility.
When you greet him with a friendly face and ask how he is doing, he naturally becomes happy.
And through this joy, one attains the pleasure of Allah.
Actually, this is not that difficult, but depending on character and habit, some find it hard or they simply don't do it.
Out of thoughts like "We don't get along" or "He is not on my level," some people don't even greet; and even if you greet them, they do not return the greeting.
Such people do exist.
But they will have to bear the consequences for their behavior.
Because if one seeks Allah's pleasure with such easy deeds, He grants them a great reward.
Even here on earth, this brings a person inner peace and joy.
It drives sorrow away from the heart.
If you make a problem out of it, it will only burden you.
Of course, it is not always easy to please everyone.
That is a different matter.
People today often lack the decency and sensitivity of the past.
Nowadays, there are many who immediately take advantage when you approach them with a smile.
But to keep it short: Greeting everyone you meet—entirely in the spirit of our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam), who said: "Spread the Salam"—should be a matter of course for a Muslim.
Greeting is a hallmark of Islam. Giving the Salam is Sunnah.
Returning the greeting, however, is Fard (obligatory).
If you say "Salam alaykum" to someone, you have fulfilled the Sunnah.
If the other person does not reply with "Wa alaykum salam," they commit a neglect of duty.
This entails a serious responsibility before Allah.
Whoever takes on this burden will feel the consequences as spiritual unrest.
When someone greets you, you simply say "Alaykum salam" and go on your way.
You don't have to sit down especially for it and have long conversations.
But this greeting alone creates a beautiful connection between people. It is a wonderful way to strengthen togetherness and at the same time attain Allah's pleasure.
That is exactly how it is.
Without a doubt, Allah loves the believers and the Muslims.
This rule naturally applies not only to followers of the Tariqa, but to all Muslims equally.
Sometimes we travel to foreign countries.
The people we meet on the streets there greet us. Either they greet first, or our companions do—and everyone returns the greeting warmly and with a smile.
But unfortunately, there are also people who claim about themselves: "I am a Muslim."
Among them are some who cannot stand the Ahl as-Sunnah and the followers of the Tariqa.
They constantly wear a sullen face and frown.
It is exactly such people that our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam) is not pleased with.
These people do not return the greeting and they drive others away from the religion with their grumpy nature.
They neither accept the greetings of others, nor do they greet anyone themselves.
May Allah protect us from this, but even among Muslims there are such characters.
Insha'Allah there are not many, but they do exist.
Even if they are only a few, they stand out unpleasantly in society due to their dismissive manner.
Surely you have also often encountered such people, just as we have.
You greet them, but as soon as they realize that you follow the path of the Ahl as-Sunnah and our Prophet (sallAllahu aleyhi wa sallam), they do not return the greeting—simply because they reject this path.
May Allah protect us.
That is why Mawlana Sheikh Nazim used to say about them: "Abusu'l-wajh, karihu'l-manzar."
This means something like: "Sullen face, knitted eyebrows, and a repulsive appearance."
Insha'Allah we will never be like that, but will always meet our Muslim brothers and sisters with a smile.
Help people as much as you can without scaring them away.
And even if you cannot help them practically, a smile is already enough.
It is completely sufficient to show people a friendly face.
May Allah help us all with this.
Of course, this is not always easy, but Insha'Allah, Allah will support us all.
