Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-U-Alaikum-Wa-Rahmatullahi-Wa-Barakatahu-Wa-Maghfiratahu,

is adding wa maghfiratahu bidaa

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is adding magferatohu to salaam bida

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) gave or replied a greeting by adding ‘wa maghfiratahu’ to the believers….the absolute maximum the Messenger of Allah (saws) said during the greeting is until ‘….wa barakatahu’. 

There is absolutely no harm if a believer supplicates their Lord to grant His Forgiveness to the believing brethren one meets in addition to the peace, and mercy, and blessing……, but to add the term ‘…wa maghfiratahu’ or any other additional terms to the ‘salaam’ greetings when such additions are not endorsed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) would not be appropriate. 

If one believes that the greetings must be declared with the addition of ‘….wa maghfiratahu’, or that the greeting is not complete until this addition is declared; then indeed it would constitute a ‘bida’ or innovation. 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan