Assalamualaikum to the neighbour
Baby Mo waved and mumbled 'samlekum' to a neighbour. Abi realised salam is contagious.
This afternoon we took a short walk. Passing a neighbour's house, she greeted us. Suddenly Baby Mo waved and said "samlekum" — his lisped version of assalamualaikum.
Abi never sat down to teach "say salam." But every time I enter the house, I say salam out loud. Every time I meet someone. Turns out those little ears record everything.
Salam is a prayer: may peace be upon you. Teaching a child to spread salam is teaching him to scatter goodness to people he doesn't even know yet. That's a seed of warmth that grows for a lifetime.
Spread salam (peace) amongst yourselves. (Muslim 54)
The neighbour beamed, and Abi quietly prayed: may this little wave become a big habit.
Related to this story
Dua
Saying Salam
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