Parenting Perspective 

Teaching a child to greet adults outside the family, like teachers and neighbours, is a cornerstone of good manners. For a child, however, shyness or distraction can often get in the way. The key is to approach this not as a matter of rigid formality, but as an opportunity to teach them how to build warm, respectful connections within their community. 

Model the Behaviour You Want to See 

Your child learns how to interact with the world by watching you. Make a point of offering a warm smile and a clear ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ to your neighbours and their teachers. When they see you do it consistently and happily, they will naturally begin to imitate your example. 

Practise and Prepare 

Do not wait for the real moment to teach. Use low-pressure situations at home to practise. A simple reminder before you leave the house ‘We will probably see our neighbour today, let us remember to give them a friendly greeting’ can make all the difference. Rehearsing takes the anxiety out of the real encounter. 

Acknowledge Their Efforts 

When you see them greet someone, even if it is quiet or hesitant, praise them for it later. Saying, ‘I was so proud of you for greeting your teacher this morning. That was very respectful,’ reinforces the behaviour and builds their social confidence. 

Connect Greetings to Community 

Help them understand the ‘why’ behind the greeting. Explain that a simple hello or salaam is a way of spreading kindness and building a friendly community. It is a small act that makes everyone, including them, feel a little happier and more connected. 

This approach helps them see greetings not as a chore, but as a simple, powerful tool for building strong and positive relationships. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, a greeting is far more than a simple pleasantry; it is a prayer, a statement of peace, and a fundamental tool for building a strong and loving community. It is one of the first and most important manners we can teach our children. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Noor (24), Verse 61: 

‘…But when you enter the houses, then say Salaam in your greeting, pertaining to Allah (Almighty) for your own benefit, which is Blessed and a source of purification; in this way (Allah) Almighty has clarified for you the benchmarks (of modest behaviour); so that you may understand (the rationale of the truth).‘ 

This verse beautifully describes the Islamic greeting as being ‘from Allah, blessed and good’. It elevates a simple social act to a form of worship, a way of bringing blessings into any space we enter. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3692, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among you.’ 

This profound hadith provides a direct formula for building a loving community. It teaches that the path to true faith is through mutual love, and the key to that love is the simple, consistent act of spreading peace through the greeting of salaam. 

By teaching your child to greet teachers and neighbours respectfully, you are linking their everyday manners to a deeply Islamic value. They will learn that offering greetings is not only polite but also a way of spreading peace and drawing closer to Allah Almighty.