53. Intentions of meeting people
· In obedience to the Sunnaĥ I will make Salām.
· According to the Sunnaĥ I will warmly shake everyone’s hand with both palms and with nothing in between them.
· If someone calls me or attracts my attention, then I will utter Labbayk.[1]
· For the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and acting upon the Sunnaĥ, gaining the reward of Ṣadaqaĥ and with the intention to please a Muslim brother, I will smile.
· If I feel happy to see him, I will let him know about these feelings so that he can also feel happy (if I do not feel happy to meet him, I will not let him know of this feeling nor will I tell a lie by saying (I’m pleased to meet you).
· I will not praise him insincerely. C I will avoid backbiting, tale-telling and useless talks.
· I will not ask questions unnecessarily.[2]
[1] A’lā Ḥaḍrat, Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān’s father Ra’īs-ul-Mutakallimīn Maulānā Naqī ‘Alī Khān عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الْـحَنَّان has written: Whoever called the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would say ‘Labbayk’ in reply, i.e., I am present. (Surūr-ul-Qulūb bi-Żikr-il-Maḥbūb, pp. 182)
[2] Such as, where are you coming from? Where are you going? What will you do there? Where do you work? What does your father do? How many kids do you have? How many siblings do you have? What are your academic qualifications? Etc.