Difference between revisions of "Giving Shalom and three steps back (עשה שלום) Hebrew Oseh Shalom, Arabic Salaamu 'alaikum"

Latest revision as of 08:15, 25 May 2010

In a Haddith by Ah (ra), the Prophet said: "The key to the prayer is cleanliness and its consecrated state is Takbeer, and its conclusion is Tasleem." As-Salaam is to announce the end of Salaah by saying As-Salaamu 'Alaikum warahmatullaah, turning the face to the right shoulder, and As-Salaamu 'Alaikum warahmatullaah, turning the face to the left shoulder.

The Gemara (Yoma 53b) teaches that upon concluding Shemoneh Esrei, one should retreat in a respectful manner. "Rabbi Alexanderi said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: "After praying one must take three steps back, and then bid shalom [peace, i.e., farewell]…" and "We learned this also [in a beraita]: "After praying, one must take three steps back and then bid shalom; if he fails to do so, it would have been better had he not prayed at all…""

The Gemara concludes that after taking three steps backwards, one should "bid shalom," first to the left, and then to the right. However the there were differing customs. "In the name of Shemaya, they said that one should give shalom to the right and then to the left, as it is said (Devarim 33:2) "From His right [hand] a fiery law for them;" and it is said (Tehillim 91:7) "A thousand will fall at your side and a myriad at your right…" Rava saw Abbayei giving shalom to his own right first. He said, "Do you think it means YOUR right side? I meant your LEFT side, which is the right of the Holy One, Blessed be He." Rav Chiyya son of Rav Huna said: "I saw that Abbayei and Rava would step three steps in a single bow." At the end of the Shemonah Esreh prayer Jews look to the left and to the right saying Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu yaseh shalom, alenu ve'al kol Yisrael

Modern Rabbinic custom is to say "Shalom" to the LEFT first, and Islamic custom was to say "Shalom" to the RIGHT first.

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+In a Haddith by Ah (ra), the Prophet said: "The key to the prayer is cleanliness and its consecrated state is Takbeer, and its conclusion is Tasleem." As-Salaam is to announce the end of Salaah by saying ''As-Salaamu 'Alaikum warahmatullaah,'' turning the face to the right shoulder, and ''As-Salaamu 'Alaikum warahmatullaah,'' turning the face to the left shoulder.
+The Gemara (Yoma 53b) teaches that upon concluding Shemoneh Esrei, one should retreat in a respectful manner. "Rabbi Alexanderi said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: "After praying one must take three steps back, and then bid shalom [peace, i.e., farewell]…" and "We learned this also [in a beraita]: "After praying, one must take three steps back and then bid shalom; if he fails to do so, it would have been better had he not prayed at all…""
+The Gemara concludes that after taking three steps backwards, one should "bid shalom," first to the left, and then to the right. However the there were differing customs. "In the name of Shemaya, they said that one should give shalom to the right and then to the left, as it is said (Devarim 33:2) "From His right [hand] a fiery law for them;" and it is said (Tehillim 91:7) "A thousand will fall at your side and a myriad at your right…" Rava saw Abbayei giving shalom to his own right first. He said, "Do you think it means YOUR right side? I meant your LEFT side, which is the right of the Holy One, Blessed be He." Rav Chiyya son of Rav Huna said: "I saw that Abbayei and Rava would step three steps in a single bow." At the end of the Shemonah Esreh prayer Jews look to the left and to the right saying ''Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu yaseh shalom, alenu ve'al kol Yisrael''
+Modern Rabbinic custom is to say "Shalom" to the LEFT first, and Islamic custom was to say "Shalom" to the RIGHT first.
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