The correct manner in answering the phone

The correct manner in answering the phone

What follows is beneficial knowledge from Ash Shaykh Al’Allaamah Al Albaanee (rahimahullaah) transmitted by way of his student Saalih bin Taha Abu Islaam in his book entitled, (what translated means) Al’aqeedah first, if they but only knew (Vol 1, pgs. 16-17), wherein he (Abu Islaam) said,

“He called me rahimahullaah (meaning Ash Shaykh Al Albaanee) one day by telephone, but I was not there. My young daughter, upon answering the telephone, said, “Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullaah”. The Shaykh asked for me and then said to her, “Inform your father that Muhammad Naasiriddeen Al Albaanee called”. (He did not say ‘AshShaykh’ . . . and this is from his humbleness, may Allaah raise his rank in Aljannah)”.

“When I returned home, my daughter informed me that a man by the name of Muhammad Naasiriddeen Al Albaanee had called. I returned his call immediately. After he (the Shaykh) requested from me that which he had wanted, he said, “Oh Abaa Islaam, when I phoned you your young daughter answered and said, “Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullaah” . Is this an action (mannerism) based on knowledge? Or just (your) young (daughter’s) personal action (mannerism)? We want to (derive) benefit (from this) Oh Abaa Islaam”.And this (the comment of the Shaykh) is also from his humbleness and wisdom in (conveying) Adda’wah. Then I said to him, “Truly this is from the action (mannerism) of (my young daughter) and for the first time”.

“From that which we know in this situation is that when a man (meaning collectively – ‘anyone’) answers the telephone he says, “Na’am” (Yes), then the person calling gives assalaam to the person he has called (by saying “Assalaamu ‘alaikum . . .”), then the person who answers the call returns assalaam. He (the one answering the call) does not begin with “Assalaamu ‘alaikum . . . .”

Then he (the Shaykh) rahimahullaah said: “This is from that which we know to be correct. Because the person calling is like the person who knocks on the door. There is no difference between them.

Explanation of what is to be derived from this beneficial knowledge:

From that which has been transmitted to us of the words of AshShaykh Al’Allaamah AlAlbaanee, through his student Saalih bin Taha, is that we are to answer the telephone with the word ‘Na’am’. The answerer does not give salaam first.The one calling is to give salaam first and then we respond to their salaam. The daleel is based upon that which is the proper manner (adab) for knocking on a door and the response to it.

HADITH : KNOCKING ON DOORS

Imam Ahmad recorded a narration stating that Anas or someone else said that the Messenger of Allah ( sallahu alayhi wasallam) asked for permission to enter upon Sa`d bin `Ubadah. He said: (As-Salamu `Alayka wa Rahmatullah)

Sa`d said, “Wa `Alaykas-Salam Wa Rahmatullah,” but the Prophet did not hear the returned greeting until he had given the greeting three times and Sa`d had returned the greeting three times, but he did not let him hear him [i.e., Sa`d responded in a low voice].

So the Prophet went back, and Sa`d followed him and said,”O Messenger of Allah, may my father and mother be ransomed for you! You did not give any greeting but I responded to you, but I did not let you hear me. I wanted to get more of your Salams and blessings.”

Then he admitted him to his house and offered him some raisins. The Prophet ate, and when he finished, he said,

(May the righteous eat your food, may the angels send blessings upon you and may those who are fasting break their fast with you.)

DO NOT STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DOOR

It should also be known that the one who is seeking permission to enter should not stand directly in front of the door; he should have the door on his right or left, because of the Hadith recorded by Abu Dawud from `Abdullah bin Busr, who said, “When the Messenger of Allah came to someone’s door, he would never stand directly in front of it, but to the right or left, and he would say,

(As-Salamu `Alaykum, As-Salamu `Alaykum.)