Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 255
255 walking and soften the voice when thou speakest” (31:19 ⎯ 20). The Muslim greeting, which is common throughout the Islamic world, is: “Peace be on you and the mercy of God and His blessings. ” The Quran directs that one should greet one’s fellow beings with a better greeting than one receives oneself, or at least return the same (4:87). One is urged to adopt a straightforward manner of speech and not to equivocate (33:71). When calling upon people or entering one’s own house one must go in by the front door, as a matter of courtesy in order not to take a person by surprise (2:190); furthermore, when calling upon people, one must ask permission before one enters; and when one enters, one should greet the inmates with the salutation of peace (24:28). “If you find no one therein, do not enter until you have obtained permission from the owner. If it be said to you, ‘Go back,’ then go back; that is purer for you. Allah knows well what you do. There is no harm for you to enter freely uninhabited houses wherein are your goods. Allah knows what you disclose and what you conceal” (24:29 ⎯ 30). Before starting on a journey, due provision must be made therefore, to obviate embarrassment (2:198).