Intercession and the Etiquette of Greetings in Islam

An-Nisa — Verses 85–87 | Explore this Quran theme on Muallim

مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقِيتًا ٨٥

Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything.

مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً
Whosoever intercedes for a good cause
يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ
will have the reward thereof
وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً
and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause
يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا ۗ
will have a share in its burden
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقِيتًا
And Allah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا ٨٦

When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ
When you are greeted with a greeting
فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا
greet in return with what is better than it
أَوْ رُدُّوهَا ۗ
or (at least) return it equally
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا
Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثًا ٨٧

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Surely, He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. And who is truer in statement than Allah?

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ
Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He).
لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ
Surely, He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection
لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ
about which there is no doubt.
وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
And who is truer in statement than Allah?