English

Saying “wa maghfiratuh”

source: silsilat ul-hudā wa nnūr ~ the series of guidance and light ~ tape no. 253

Question #2: “What is the authenticity of adding wa maghfiratuh[1] in offering the salām and responding to it?”
Shaykh al-Albānī answers:
“There is no addition (of wa maghfiratuh) in the hadīth with respect to offering the salaam; i.e., if a person starts with offering the salām, he ends at wa barakātuh: asalāmu ʽalaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. And the hadīth that has come – or in more precise words, (the hadīth) that was narrated – (stating) that at the fourth time, the fourth of them said, asalāmu ʽalaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh wa maghfiratuh, then this is a weak narration. As for the addition (of wa maghfiratuh) in the response to wa barakātuh, then it is established; i.e., a man says, asalāmu ʽalaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, then we add wa maghfiratuh in the response…
It is in agreement with the noble Qur’ān (with) the saying ‘When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally.’[2] So if the greeter gives the salām, saying asalāmu ʽalaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, the āyah that stated ‘greet in return with what is better than it’ is not invalidated; this command still exists, which is (followed by saying) wa maghfiratuh. This addition (with respect to responding) has also been mentioned in…narrations established from some of the Companions.
So we have brought out a conclusion whose summary is that adding wa maghfiratuh in the response is allowed and starting (the salaam with it) is not allowed.”
 
~ asaheeha translations ~

[1] saying ‘and His Forgiveness’ after the greeting ‘may Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allāh be upon you’
[2] Sūrat un-Nisā, 4:86