17. Allahuthala gave a sentence which is blessed and good to Adam (AS) and his generations. What is that sentence?

 1. Inaah lillahi wa innailaihi rajiwoon

 2. Masha Allah la quwatha illa billah

 3. Bismillah irrahaman nirraheem

 4. Assaalamualaikum wa rahamathullah hi wa Baraka thahu

 5. La ilaha illallahu wahadhahu lasharikalahu

 6. Walahowla wal quwwatha illa billah

 

Answer:  اسلام عليكم.  As-salaamu ‘Alaykum wa rahamathullah hi wa Baraka thahu.  (May the peace of Allah be upon you).

Allah mentioned in the Quran: "But when you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah (say: As-Salamu 'Alaikum) blessed and good (An Nur,24:61).

The Prophet ﷺ said, “When Allah created Adam (AS) He said (to him), ‘Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.’ Adam (AS) greeted, ‘As-Salamu alaikum'.  They replied, ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaika wa Rahmatullah (Peace and Allah’s Mercy be on you).’ So they increased ‘wa Rahmatullah’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, Book 74:246).

It is obligatory to reply to the Salam because Allah said in the Qur'an: "When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally..." [4:86]. Imams Abu-Dawood and At-Termithi reported in a good hadith that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ & said, "Assalamu Alaikum." The Prophet ﷺ responded & the man sat down. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "Ten rewards." Another man came and said, "Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah." The Prophet ﷺ responded and the man sat down. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "twenty rewards." Then another man came and said: "Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatulah Wa Barakatuhu". The Prophet ﷺ responded and the man sat down. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, "thirty rewards." 

Abu Huraira (RA) reported the Prophet ﷺ as saying: Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim.  When you meet him, offer him greetings; when he invites you to a feast accept it. When he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says: "Allhumdhullilah," you say "Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you); and when he falls ill visit him; and when he dies follow his bier.

Anas bin Malik reported that when Allah's Messenger ﷺ happened to pass by young boys he would great them with these words (Sahih Bukhari, Book 26, No,5391)

Abu Huraira reported the Messenger ﷺ as saying: The rider should first greet the pedestrian, and the pedestrian the one who is seated and a small group should greet a larger group (Book 26, No. 5374)

The related phrases "Alayhiassalam" and “Alayhaassalam” are not used as a greeting, but reserved for male and female Prophets respectively.

Many mispronounce and even shorten the salam. We should avoid misinterpreting salam both in written and spoken forms like

       🚫 Aslaamalykum

       🚫 Assalam o alykum

       🚫 Salam

       🚫 Salam walaykum

Kindly preserve its original dialect. One should not initiate the greetings of salaam to non-Muslim. But if they say reply as "Wa alaikum"

Ayesha (RA) reported that some Jews came to the Prophet ﷺ and they said: Abu'l-Qasim, "as-Sam-u-' Alaikum", whereupon he the Prophet ﷺ said: "Wa 'Alaikum". Ayesha (RA) reported: In response to these words, I said: "But let there be death upon you and disgrace also, whereupon the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Ayesha, do not use harsh words. She said: Did you hear what they said? Thereupon he said: "Did I not respond to them when they said that; I said to them: "Wa' Alaikum (let it be upon you)". Sahih Bukhari Book 26, No. 5386:

Abu Huraira (RA) reported Prophet ﷺ as saying: "Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it."  (Sahih Bukhari, Book 26, No. 5389)

Allah further says in Al Quran: "And those who believed and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever, with the permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: "Salam.'' (14;23). Allah said in other Ayath, "When they reach it, and its gates will be opened and its keepers will say: "Salamun Alaykum" (39:73). And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salamun `Alaykum.'' (13:23-24) Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect. (25:75). Their way of request therein will be Subhanaka Allahumma  and Salam will be their greetings therein !’’ (10:10).

A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach to the sky. Giving its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. See you not how Allah sets forth a parable (14:24 & 25).

According to Ibn Kathir the above verses are meant for "La ilaha illallah". But in Quran it comes next to Subhanaka Allahumma & Salam. According to my opinion, it is apt to apply for Salam also.