Can one Salaam between male & females?
The issue of whether men and women can greet each other with Salaam has been addressed in various Islamic sources.
Firstly, Umm Salama narrates that when the Messenger of Allah finished his salaam from the prayer, the women would rise while he remained seated briefly before standing. We think, and Allah knows best, that this was so the women could leave before any men caught up with them.
Sahih al-Bukhari 10:261. This indicates a level of separation and consideration for the women during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
Furthermore, Al-Kafi contains a narration where the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) said: Do not let women initiate salam (greetings) nor invite you to food, for the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: Women are a source of trial and are 'awrah (to be concealed), so conceal their trial by not speaking and hide their 'awrah by keeping them in the houses.
Al-Kafi 3:1097. This suggests a cautious approach in interactions between men and women.
However, another narration from Al-Kafi states: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to greet women, and they would respond to his greeting.
Al-Kafi 4:60. This indicates that while there are guidelines and considerations, greetings do occur between men and women under certain circumstances.
Overall, while there are recommendations for modesty and caution in interactions between genders, the practice of greeting does exist within the framework of Islamic teachings. It is essential to approach these interactions with respect and adherence to the principles of modesty in Islam.
Sources
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Sahih al-Bukhari 10:261
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 10, Hadith 261 · Narrated by Umm Salama
Umm Salama said that when the Messenger of Allah finished his salaam from the prayer, the women would rise while he remained seated briefly before standing. We think, and Allah knows best, that this was so the women could leave before any men caught up with them.
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Al-Kafi 3:1097
Al-Kafi · Book 3, Hadith 1097
Throw every day at the time when the sun reaches its zenith and say what you said when you threw the pebble at Al-Aqaba. Start with the first pebble; throw it to its left in the valley bed and say what you said on the day of sacrifice. Then stand on the left side of the path facing the Qiblah, praise Allah, and send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). Then proceed a little, pray and ask Allah to accept your acts. Then go forward again and repeat the same at the second pebble, stand, call upon Allah as before, then move on to the third pebble. There, maintain tranquility and dignity; throw and do not stand at it. — OR — The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) said: Do not let women initiate salam (greetings) nor invite you to food, for the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: Women are a source of trial and are 'awrah (to be concealed), so conceal their trial by not speaking and hide their 'awrah by keeping them in the houses.
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Al-Kafi 4:60
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 60
I was standing before Al-Ridha (peace be upon him) in Khorasan with several from Banu Hashim, among them Ishaq ibn Musa ibn Isa al-Abbasi. He said: 'O Ishaq, it has reached me that people say: “We claim that people are slaves to us through our kinship to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny),” but I never said that nor did I hear it from my fathers and neither did anyone from my fathers convey that. But I say: indeed people are slaves to us in obedience; they are our clients in religion. Let the one who witnesses inform the absent. — OR — The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to greet women, and they would respond to his greeting. The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) used also to greet women, but he disliked greeting young women among them, saying: "Do you fear that their voice will please me and thus more than the reward I seek will enter my heart?" — OR — I said to Abu Abdullah: Umar ibn Hanzala came to us with a time, and he said Abu Abdullah: 'Then he does not lie to us.' I said: He said the time for Maghrib is when the sun disc sets, except that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), if he was traveling hastily, delayed the Maghrib prayer and combined it with Isha. He said truthfully. He said: The time for Isha is when the twilight disappears until one third of the night, and the time of dawn is when its light appears until bright. — OR — Whatever is caught by the ropes and a part of it is severed, it is considered dead; whatever part of its body you find alive, cut its throat and then eat from it. — OR — I asked him about a man who deliberately killed another man and was brought before the governor, who then delivered him to the heirs of the slain to execute him. Then a group came to their aid and rescued the killer from the heirs. He said, 'I think those who freed the killer from the heirs should be imprisoned until they bring him back.' It was said, 'If the killer dies while they are in prison?' He said, 'If he dies, the blood money is upon them all to pay collectively to the heirs of the slain.'
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