Malaysia a Christian Nation?

What do I think? What do you think I think? I am a Muslim. So again, what do you think I think? A yes? No?

Fiqh Medic

What are the legal maxims of Islamic Law (QAWA’ID FIQHIYYAH). Let's say, if a patient is having a colostomy bag (which contains his urine or feces), would the ablution be valid? How about, if a women is in labour (bear in mind that giving birth to the first child can be as long as 19hours); can she still performs Salah? (Let's find the answer here.)

Men VS Women

Let's think critically. Who is the one which better in governing this world!? Men, who have more influencing and have strong character or women, who have emotional values, and boundless cares and love?

Are You Ready to Fall in Love??

What is love to begin with? we might assume that we have that sort of wonderful love, unshakeable by no others even death. We may sacrifice anything to our beloved person. But, if we claimed that we love Rasulullah, where are the proofs? You are willing to sacrifice anything for his sake?

Does God need us?

Now, tell me, what are the differences between this human-made lego tree and the one who created by our almighty creator,our god?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Insight & Wisdom

Assalamualaikum w.b.t
Photo of a dark blue sky and stars over Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
 In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise. (Quran 16:12)

Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best of it:   those are the ones  who Allah has guided, and  those  are the  ones endowed with understanding. (Qur’an, 39:18)

In order to know Allah Who created all living creatures and the universe and to comprehend His power, a person should consider everything our Lord has created and try to appreciate the manifestations of His boundless knowledge and will.

Picture of Kilimanjaro Mountain, Africa as viewed from near Loitokitok (photo by Fred Skinner)
Only in this way can he understand that everything he sees was created and must definitely be the product of a power and intelligence.

By acknowledging the intelligence and creative power of Allah in this way he will come closer to Allah and realize that he needs to have faith in Him.

However, for a person to be able to see and understand all these things, he requires an insight which sees with wisdom. Seeing everything around him with wisdom is the best means of referring to Allah and remembering Him at every moment, as Allah tells us in the verse, "an instruction and a reminder for every penitent human being." (Quran 50: 8)

To give sight and as a reminder to every servant who turns frequently (to Allah).
For a person to be able to be cautious, notice every detail and evaluate these things correctly, peace of mind is necessary.

The minds of people living in the community of the ignorant are perpetually filled with worldly concerns. They do not want to see, these people are blinder than the blind and because they do not want to hear they are deafer than the deaf. Allah describes such people in the following Qur'anic verse:

... Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).  (Qran 07:179)

They are incapable of seeing the divine wisdom in the signs of Allah's creation because as well as the imbalance in their mental state they are not at ease and tranquil in spiritual terms. In the following verse of the Qur'an, Allah describes the inability of disbelievers to see the proofs of the creation which are evident even in a small insect:

Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: "What means Allah by this similitude?" By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path),-  (Quran 02: 26)

Deniers of the faith do not consider the truths of the faith which are before their eyes every day because their intellects are obscured by depression, anxiety and stress.

They cannot understand the need for and the importance of faith in Allah because they cannot, in the true sense, see His supremacy over all the living creatures which He has created.

Even if they seem to understand just a little, this understanding quickly loses its effect because they are not strong enough to put their consciences to work. Allah tells us in the following verse of the Qur'an that even though He confronts them with proofs which point to Him, these have no effect on them:

And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them!  (Quran 12:105)


They are not comfortable or tranquil in spiritual terms because of their unhappiness. This prevents them from looking at everything around them with insight and holds them back from faith in Allah. They lose the happiness sincere belief in Allah would bring them and lead miserable lives because of their own lack of intelligence.

Believers always feel happiness because they believe in Him, think about Him and try to earn His approval. In order to approach Allah more closely they think deeply about and investigate everything He has created.

For example, for a believer, looking at the boundless Heavens is a way of appreciating the power and artistry of Allah. Or when he sees a beautiful view, he considers that this beauty has been shown him by Allah and is grateful to Him for it.

For the faithful, regarding everything around them as an opportunity to praise Allah ensures that they gain His approval and experience happiness more fully.
Wallahuaklam.
P/S: Translation sourced from Abdullah Yusuf Ali's Translation of The Holy Quran



Adapted from the book, FAITH: The Way to Happiness ,written by Harun Yahya.
By Diana Rizal (freestyler.driz@googlemail.com)


Photo of moon at night

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

RUGINYA MANUSIA MENINGGALKAN AL-QURAN


Hikmah dan kebaikan membaca Al-Quran sering dibincangkan atau dihuraikan dalam ceramah atau artikel. Disamping kita mengetahui kebaikan membaca Al-Quran, adalah amat wajar untuk kita mengetahui kesan buruk sekiranya kita melupakan Al-Quran. Apatah lagi meninggalkan terus kitab suci itu.

Sebelum kita kupas isu utama, kita kenali dahulu ciri-ciri Al-Quran.

Ciri-ciri Al-Quran:

1.    An-nur dan al-huda (petunjuk)
2.    Ar-Rahmah (bahagia)
3.    Al-Furqan (pembeza kebenaran dan kebatilan)
4.    Al-Haq (yang benar dan dapat memberi sumber keyakinan)
5.    Al-Bushra (pembawa berita gembira)
6.    As-Syifa’ (penawar dan penghapus kesedihan)
7.    Az-Zikri (peringatan)

Kesan kepada individu


1. Buta mata hati

Al-Quran merupakan petunjuk bagi manusia di dunia ini. Siapa yang melupakan dan meninggalkannya tidak akan dapat melihat kebenaran Allah kerana matahatinya telah gelap dan ditutupi daripada cahaya kebenaran.

“Maka tidak pernahkah mereka berjalan di bumi, sehingga hati (akal) mereka dapat memahami, telinga mereka dapat mendengar? Sebenarnya bukan mata itu yang buta, tetapi yang buta ialah hati yang di dalam dada” (al-Hajj: 46)

Daripada ayat di atas, mata yang paling penting untuk dipelihara adalah mata hati yang apabila hati kita dijaga dan dipelihara, maka secara tidak langsung mata penglihatan dan telinga kita turut terjaga. Dan cara yang terbaik untuk menjaganya adalah dengan sentiasa membaca dan memahami ayat-ayat Allah.


2. Keras hati

Hati yang jauh dari petunjuk Allah menjadi keras dan sukar untuk menerima kebenaran sehingga disifatkan oleh Allah lebih keras daripada batu.

“Belum tibakah waktunya bagi orang-orang yang beriman untuk secara khusyuk mengingat Allah dan mematuhi kebenaran yang telah diwahyukan (kepada mereka), dan janganlah mereka (berlaku) seperti orang-orang yang telah menerima kitab sebelum itu, kemudian mereka melalui masa yang panjang sehingga hati mereka menjadi keras. Dan ramai diantara mereka menjadi orang-orang fasik” (al-Hadid: 16)

Sejarah sendiri telah membuktikan bahawa kaum sebelum ini yang telah berpaling dari kitab Allah, hati mereka akan menjadi keras dan sukar untuk menerima kebenaran Islam. Dan sekiranya dibiarkan berlarutan menjauhi ayat-ayat Allah kelak mereka menjadi orang yang fasik.


3. Sempit dada

Apabila kita bergantung kepada selain Allah (makhluk) maka kita akan bergantung kepada sesuatu yang lemah dan tidak memiliki apapun. Kita akan merasa sempit apabila bergantung selain kepada Allah apabila tidak mampu memenuhi kehendak dan keinginan kita.

“Barangsiapa yang dikehendaki Allah akan mendapat hidayah (petunjuk), Dia akan membukakan dadanya untuk (menerima) Islam. Dan barangsiapa yang dikehendakiNya menjadi sesat, Dia jadikan dadanya sempit dan sesak…” (al-An’am: 125)


4. Lupa terhadap diri sendiri

Hubungan Allah dengan hamba-hambaNya begitu dekat. Apabila hamba dekat kepadaNya maka Allah lebih dekat lagi. Tetapi apabila hamba melupakan Allah, maka Allah akan melupakan hambaNya, bahkan menjadikan mereka lupa akan diri mereka sendiri.

“Dan janganlah kamu seperti orang-orang yang lupa kepada Allah, sehingga Allah menjadikan mereka lupa akan diri sendiri. Mereka itulah orang-orang fasik” (al-Hasyr: 19)


5. Fasiq

Fasiq merujuk kepada golongan yang keluar dari batasan-batasan yang telah ditentukan oleh Allah swt. Apabila kita melupakan Al-Quran atau meninggalkannya, maka kita telah berada di luar batasan Allah swt sedangkan semua itu disebutkan dan diperingatkan di dalam kitabNya.

“Sesungguhnya Allah tidak segan membuat perumpamaan seekor nyamuk atau yang lebih kecil dari itu. Adapun orang-orang yang beriman, mereka tahu bahawa itu kebenaran dari Tuhan. Tetapi mereka yang kafir berkata, “Apa maksud Allah dengan perumpaan ini? Dengan (perumpamaan) itu banyak orang yang dibiarkanNya sesat, dan dengan itu banyak (pula) orang yang diberiNya petunjuk. Tetapi tidak ada yang Dia sesatkan dengan (perumpamaan) itu selain orang-orang fasik”
(al-Baqarah: 26)

Orang yang beriman akan menerima dengan hati yang terbuka kebenaran ayat-ayat Allah tanpa perlu dipersoalkan lagi walaupun perkara itu sekecil-kecil perkara. Tetapi bagi orang yang melupakan Al-Quran, sukar bagi mereka untuk menerima perintah Allah walaupun memang sudah dinyatakan dengan jelas di dalam Al-Quran dan mereka akan terus menerus mempertikaikan hukum Allah itu.



Kesan kepada masyarakat



1. Kehidupan serba sulit

Allah swt telah berjanji bahawa siapa yang berpaling dari ajaran yang telah dibawa oleh nabi saw akan menerima balasan dalam kehidupannya. Kerana petunjuk selain dari Allah mempunyai kekurangan dalam setiap sisi.


“Dan barangsiapa yang berpaling dari peringatanKu, maka sungguh dia akan menjalani kehidupan yang sempit, dan Kami akan mengumpulkannya pada hari kiamat dalam keadaan buta.”
(Taha: 24)



2. Zalim dan hina

Apabila kita lari dari keadilan yang ditunjukkan oleh Allah maka tempat untuk kita adalah kezaliman kerana kita telah meletakkan sesuatu tidak pada tempatnya yang sepatutnya menurut apa yang dikehendaki Allah. Kebergantungan kepada selain Yang Maha Pencipta iaitu makhluk akan melahirkan kehinaan.

“Dan siapakah yang lebih zalim daripada orang yang telah diperingatkan dengan ayat-ayat TuhanNya, kemudian dia berpaling darinya? Sungguh, Kami akan berikan balasan kepada orang-orang yang berdosa” (as-Sajdah: 22)


3. Nifaq

Nifaq adalah sifat yang berbahaya bagi masyarakat dan bagi individu tersebut. Hal ini kerana orang tidak mengetahui mereka dengan baik, kerana pada zahirnya mereka seperti orang (muslim) lain. Tetapi Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang ada di dalam hati-hati mereka. Rasulullah saw menceritakan sifat atau ciri-ciri nifaq dan meminta kita menjauhinya.

“Dan apabila dikatakan kepada mereka, “Marilah (patuh) kepada apa yang telah diturunkan Allah dan (patuh) kepada Rasul,” (nescaya) engkau (Muhammad) orang munafik menghalangi dengan keras darimu” (an-Nisa’: 61)


4. Sesat

Petunjuk yang diturunkan oleh Allah swt adalah petunjuk yang jelas kebenaran. Dinyatakan satu persatu oleh Allah swt hakikat-hakikat kebenaran ini dengan bukti-bukti yang begitu jelas sehingga tidak ada lagi alasan bagi mereka untuk berpaling setelah mereka mengaku beriman, kecuali keingkaran mereka terhadap hakikat yang begitu jelas yang terbukti di hadapannya. Inilah yang disebutkan kesesatan yang nyata.

“Tidakkah engkau (Muhammad) memperhatikan orang-orang yang mengaku bahawa mereka telah beriman kepada apa yang diturunkan kepadamu dan kepada apa yang diturunkan sebelummu? Tetapi mereka masih inginkan ketetapan hukum kepada thaghut, padahal mereka telah diperintahkan untuk mengingkari thaghut itu. Dan syaitan bermaksud menyesatkan mereka (dengan) kesesatan yang sejauh-jauhnya” (an-Nisa’: 60)

“Orang yang dalam dadanya tidak ada sedikit pun dari Al-Quran, ibarat rumah yang buruk dan hampir roboh” (HR. At-Tirmidzi)

Maha Bijaksana Allah swt. yang menciptakan kehidupan dengan segala kelengkapannya. Laut yang luas dengan segala kandungannya. Langit yang biru dengan gemerlap hiasan bintang-bintangnya. Dan kehidupan manusia dengan kelengkapan aturan dan rambu-rambunya.

Berdekat-dekatlah dengan Al-Quran, hati akan memperoleh kesegaran. Untuk hati, siraman air adalah cahaya Al-Quran, kehangatan matahari adalah nasihat, dan tanah gembur merupakan lingkungan yang baik (bergaul dengan orang yang baik). Hati yang selalu dekat dengan Al-Quran bagaikan tanaman yang tumbuh di sekitar mata air yang jernih. Ia akan tumbuh subur.

Dari Abu Hurairah ra., Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Tidaklah suatu kaum berkumpul di salah satu rumah-rumah Allah untuk melantunkan ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran dan mempelajarinya, melainkan akan turun kepada mereka ketenangan, dilingkupi pada diri mereka rahmat, dilingkari para malaikat, dan Allah pun akan menyebut (memuji) mereka pada makhluk yang ada di dekat-Nya.” (HR. Muslim)



Contributed by: wanie_mickey@yahoo.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

The First Of Its Kind- Electronic As-Shifa' by MSOC

Assalamualaikum.
Dear all,

1. It is indeed our pleasure to present you the most innovative publishing of Electronic As-Syifa', the first of its kind and it's just for you! This new one has evolved from the previous pdf format e-magazine. ;-)

2. We hope that you also already have a hard copy (printed edition) of it as we already started distributing since last Friday, 17 October 2010. We will try to reach every single one of you and hopefully this will always get us connected. The best of all, it is free! =)

3. What we hope from you is very simple- Your feedbacks. We are reaching you to reach others, the same way we reach others to reach you. We strongly believe in the fact that two heads are better than one, let alone if there are more than 100 of us! Hence we hope for your sincere participation as MSOC does not belong to only us the committee alone but we are together in a world where positions does not really matter- we are one because we believe in He the only One and Only- Allah S.W.T.

Some Features of As-Shifa' Online:

- It is an executable file with extension .exe so please do not worry, we assure you it's not a virus so long as you download it from our legitimate website.
- You need a flash player to play it, I believe most laptops or PCs already come with it, or even if not, it's free online, so go get it now! 
- Once you launch it, it automatically plays a song to accompany your reading, but you can press a button at its bottom bar to silence the sound if you wish so.
- Most interestingly this online edition resembles the real book you have- in the sense that you can flip it from one page to another! We hope you enjoy this unique feature ;-)
- There are many others. Please kindly explore at your convenience.


PLEASE KINDLY GO TO OUR DOWNLOADS SECTION TO DOWNLOAD YOURS

4. Again, your feedbacks are always welcome. Share this even with your friends outside IMU. We hope that we always pray for each other and promote unity towards the strength of Ummah by empowering ourselves and people around us.

Enjoy reading my brothers and sisters!

With Love,
MSOC Committee Members

Thursday, October 7, 2010

A Wonderful Poem.. =)

Ya Allah, forgive me when I whine


Today, upon a bus,
I saw a girl with golden hair.
and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch.
But as she passed, she smiled.
Ya Allah, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 legs, the world is mine.


I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Ya Allah, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.


Later, while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word;
and then I knew, he couldn't hear.
Ya Allah, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.


With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Ya Allah, forgive me when I whine.
I have been blessed indeed, the world is mine 

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Muhasabah Diri

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Bersabarlah kamu menghadapi segala kesukaran dalam mengerjakan perkara-perkara yang berkebajikan, dan kuatkanlah kesabaran kamu lebih daripada kesabaran musuh, di medan perjuangan, dan bersedialah dengan kekuatan pertahanan di daerah-daerah sempadan serta bertaqwalah kamu kepada Allah supaya, kamu berjaya mencapai kemenangan."

-Surah Al-Imran ayat 200-

“Ukhuwwah Fillah” iaitu  “Ikatan iman yg ditegakkan atas dasar manhaj Allah’….. Dan jugak, Ukhuwwah Wal Hubb Fillah iaitu dengan maknanya Persaudaraan kerana Allah. 

Sepertimana Rasulullah pernah bersabda: 
“Sekuat-kuat ikatan iman adalah persaudaraan kerana Allah,cinta kerana Allah dan membenci kerana Allah”<br>[HR Tirmizi] 

Maka dengan itu,terdapat banyak ayat samada dari Al Quran dan As Sunnah dapat kita saksikan persaudaraan seperti diatas. Skop mana yang kita katakan “Ukhuwwah Fillah” iaitu Ikatan Iman (kepercayaan) yang ditegakkan berdasarkan jalan Allah redhai…Mencintainya kerana Allah dan membencinya kerana Allah….dari cerminan iman seseorang itu akan melahirkan perbuatan-perbuatan yang saling berpesan-pesan (berdakwah) sesama manusia. Dimana terdapat ayat Al Quran yang menyatakannya ; 
“Demi Masa!, Sesungguhnya manusia itu benar-benar dalam kerugian, kecuali orang yang beriman dan mengerjakan amal soleh, dan berpesan-pesan (berdakwah) supaya menaati kebenaran dan berpesan-pesan (berdakwah) supaya menetapi kesabaran” [QS Al Ashr, ayat 1-3]

"Innamal mu'minuna ikhwah, fa aslihu baina akhwaikum"….
“Sesungguhnya mukmin itu bersaudara, maka damaikanlah orang-orang yang berselisih diantaramu.”
 Dari segi agama, antara hal yang dapat diperoleh seseorang apabila ia senantiasa menjaga ukhuwah Islamiyah adalah:

1. Saling mencintai di jalan Allah Taala. Orang yang saling mencintai di jalan Allah akan dapat merasakan manisnya iman, memperoleh naungan di hari kiamat (hadith 7 golongan, di antara orang-orang yang saling mencintai karena Allah , mereka menjadi sebaik-baiknya insan disisi Allah dan akhirnya akan memperoleh mimbar dari cahaya di hari kiamat) 

2. Tolong-menolong dalam ketaatan. Mereka yang berukhuwah akan sentiasa bersedia dalam memberikan pertolongan dalam mengerjakan kebaikan dan ketaatan kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya. Di zaman Rasulullah hal itu jelas terlihat seperti menolong sesama muslimah meminjamkan pakaian yang cantik agar saudarinya juga dapat hadir di solat AidilFitri, jadi, bukannya memberi pertolongan semata-mata untuk mendapat keuntungan duniawi mahupun nama dan gelaran.

3. Mensucikan, mengagungkan Al haqq atau kebenaran. Dalam QS 103:3 disebutkan bahwa hendaknya kita saling tolong-menolong mengingatkan untuk menepati kebenaran dan untuk bersabar. Orang yang berukhuwah akan bersama-sama dalam menegakkan kebenaran. Persahabatan mereka tulus kerana mencintai kebenaran. 

4. Persamaan dan kesejajaran, Firman Allah QS 49:13 “Inna akramakum ‘indallahu atqaakum” benar-benar diwujudkan oleh mereka yang berukhuwah. Mereka benar-benar sedar dan merasa bahawa manusia adalah sama, sejajar, setara di hadapan Allah. Bezanya di hadapan Allah adalah ketaqwaan seseorang itu. 

5. Saling menghormati. Sesama muslim yang berukhuwah akan saling menghormati satu sama lain. Mereka juga saling berlumba-lumba memberi salam dahulu. Dalam hadith dikatakan Rasulullah saw., “Bukan termasuk golongan kami orang yang tidak menghormati orang-orang yang lebih tua dan menyayangi orang-orang yang lebih muda”. 

6. Itsar: Mementingkan saudara seaqidahnya lebih dari dirinya sendiri. Boleh dikatakan bahawa itsar adalah puncak ukhuwah Islamiyah. Apabila bentuk asas ukhuwah adalah “Salamatus Shodr”, kelapangan dada terhadap saudara seiman maka Itsar adalah bentuk tertinggi ukhuwah itu sendiri. 

Secara kesimpulannya, manfaat tertinggi dan hakiki adalah manfaat ukhrawi, ianya balasan utama yang akan di peroleh di akhirat kelak. Ribathul Ukhuwah (ikatan ukhuwah) dan Ribathul Jamaah (ikatan jamaah) yang terjalin kuat di dunia insya Allah akan berlanjut di akhirat nanti.


Authored by: leverdureviolet@yahoo.co.uk

~Selamat Berukhuwwah~

Friday, October 1, 2010

Rules of Greeting Non Muslims In Islam (Part 1)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t

May all of us be in the best of health.

As all Muslim should know, the Islamic greeting is ‘Assalamualaikum warahmatullah hiwabarakatuh’(Peace and mercy and blessing of Allah be upon you). Then the Muslim will reply back with ‘Waalaikummussalam warahmatullah’(And peace and mercy upon you too). However, how does a Muslim replies back to Non-Muslim who greeted them? How Muslim greets other Non-Muslim? There are lots question inside our heart regarding this matter eventhough it is so simple… 

Therefore we can use Al-Quran and Al-Hadith to find the answer.

 Here is a Qur'anic verse that talks about greeting...

Surah 4:86

When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things.

Ibn did comment on the quran verse and here is the Tafsir:

Ibn Abbas said: Whoever greeted you from the creation of Allah then return it back even if he was a Magian, for Allah said: When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it or return it. Muhammad bin Bashar, said that Salim bin Nooh said that Saeed bin Abi Arooba said that Qatada said: That part of Allah's statement "When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it" is for the Muslims and that part of Allah's statement "or return it" is for the People of the Book. Bashr Ibn Muath said that Yazid said that Sa'eed said that Qatada said: That part of Allah's statement "When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it" is for the Muslims and that part of Allah's statement "or return it" is for the People of the Book. Bashr Ibn Muath said that Yazid said that Sa'eed said that Qatada said: That part of Allah's statement "When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it" you should greet better than you were greeted and this is only for the Muslims and that part of Allah's statement "or return it" is for the People of the Book. Yunus told me that Ibn Wahab told him that Ibn Zayd said: That part of Allah's statement "When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a greeting better than it" my father said: It is a duty on every Muslim who is greeted (by a Muslim) to greet him back with a better greeting, and if he is greeted by other than a Muslim then he should greet back just like what was said to him. (Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Commentary on Surah 4:86,

So, in easier words, It is understandable that Muslim are to reply back with better greeting if greeted by Muslim and reply equally if greeted by the Non-Muslim.

Here are some Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) states how to reply back to the greetings of Christians and Jews...

Saheeh Bukhari

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 275: 

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, "If the people of the Scripture greet you, then you should say (in reply), 'Wa'alaikum (And on you).' "

Saheeh Muslim

Book 026, Number 5380:

Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the People of the Book offer you salutations, you should say: The same to you.

Book 026, Number 5381:

Anas reported that the Companions of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said to him: The People of the Book offer us salutations (by saying as-Salamu- 'Alaikum). How should we reciprocate them? Thereupon he said: Say: Wa 'Alaikum (and upon you too).

So here from the Hadith we see how we should reply back to the People of the Book. We only say "and upon you too". So if they bestow peace upon us then we are basically doing the same when we say "and upon you too". But why did this command come about in the first place?

The reason could be made clear by reading the following Hadith...

Saheeh Bukhari

Volume 8, Book 74, Number 274:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "When the Jews greet you, they usually say, 'As-Samu 'alaikum (Death be on you),' so you should say (in reply to them), 'Wa'alaikum (And on you)."

Volume 8, Book 75, Number 404: 

Narrated 'Aisha: The Jews used to greet the Prophet by saying, "As-Samu 'Alaika (i.e., death be upon you), so I understood what they said, and I said to them, "As-Samu 'alaikum wal-la'na (i.e. Death and Allah's Curse be upon you)." The Prophet said, "Be gentle and calm, O 'Aisha, as Allah likes gentleness in all affairs." I said, "O Allah's Prophet! Didn't you hear what they said?" He said, "Didn't you hear me answering them back by saying, 'Alaikum (i.e., the same be upon you)?"


Volume 9, Book 84, Number 62: 

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "When the Jews greet anyone of you they say: 'Sam'Alaika (death be upon you); so you should say; 'Wa 'Alaika (and upon you).'"

Volume 9, Book 84, Number 60:

Narrated Anas bin Malik: A Jew passed by Allah's Apostle and said, "As-Samu 'Alaika." Allah's Apostle said in reply, "We 'Alaika." Allah's Apostle then said to his companions, "Do you know what he (the Jew) has said? He said, 'As-Samu 'Alaika.'" They said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we kill him?" The Prophet, said, "No. When the people of the Book greet you, say: 'Wa 'Alaikum.'"

Saheeh Muslim

Book 026, Number 5382:

Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When the Jews offer you salutations, tome of them say as-Sam-u-'Alaikum (death be upon you). You should say (in response to it): Let it be upon you.

Book 026, Number 5384:

'A'isha reported that a group of Jews came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and sought his audience and said: As-Sam-u-'Alaikum. A'isha said in response: As-Sim-u-'Alaikum (death be upon you) and curse also, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: 'A'isha, verily Allah loes kindness in every matter. She said: Did you bear what they said? Thereupon he said: Did you not hear that I said (to them): Wa 'Alaikum.

Book 026, Number 5386:

'A'isha reported that some Jews came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and they said: Abu'l-Qasim (the Kunya of the Holy Prophet), as-Sam-u-'Alaikum, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Wa 'Alaikum. A'isha reported: In response to these words of theirs, I said: But let there be death upon you and disgrace also, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: 'A'isha, do not use harsh words. She said: Did you hear what they said? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Did I not respond to them when they said that; I said to them: Wa'Alaikum (let it be upon you).

Book 026, Number 5388:

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that some people from amongst the Jews said to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) Abu'l-Qasim. as-Sam-u-'Alaikum, whereupon he said: Wa 'Alaikum, A'isha was enraged and asked him (Allah's Apostle) whether he had not heard what they had said. He said, I did hear and I retorted to them (and the curse that I invoked upon them would receive response from Allah), but (the curse that they invoked upon us) would not be responded.

Sunan Abu Dawud

Book 41, Number 5187: 

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: When one of the Jews greets you saying: Death may come upon you, reply: The same to you.

Therefore in conclusion, There is nothing wrong if Non-Muslim greet us with Salam as it is allowed, however replying with ‘waalaikum’ is more than enough.

Prepared by: lokman_mhd@yahoo.com