Ruling on saying Sabaah al-khayr (Good morning) and Masa’ al-khayr (good evening)

Praise be to Allah.

We do not know of there being anything wrong with that, but it should be said after starting with the salaam and after the prescribed response, if the person was greeted with salaam. 

And Allaah is the Source of strength; may Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote. 

Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (24/115). 

The Standing Committee was also asked: 

Here in Egypt we customarily greet people in the morning by saying Sabaah al-khayr ya fulaan (Good morning, O So and so). What is the ruling on this greeting in Islam? 

Answer: 

The greeting of Islam is al-salaamu ‘alaykum (peace be upon you). If the words wa rahmat-Allaah wa barakaatuhu (and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings) are added, that is better. If he says after that to the one whom he meets, Sabaah al-khayr (Good morning), for example, there is nothing wrong with that. But if the greeting upon meeting is limited to saying Sabaah al-khayr, without saying Al-salaamu alaykum, that is bad. 

And Allaah is the Source of strength; may Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote. 

Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (24/119).