“Begin with greetings, then speak.”

— افشوا السلام بعد الكلام

afshū as-salām baʿda al-kalām

“Begin with greetings, then speak.”
This Islamic precept carries within it an ancient wisdom: true speech is born in a climate of peace. A greeting is not a mere formality; it is a theological act. It precedes speech as a foundation — a recognition of the other, an opening to dialogue.

In the Gospels, this dynamic is particularly striking after the resurrection. When Jesus appears to his own, his first words are not demonstrations or reproaches, but a greeting full of gentleness and power: "Peace be with you." In Greek: εἰρήνη ὑμῖν (eirēnē hymin)

📖 John 20:19:
“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”

📖 John 20:21:
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’”

📖 John 20:26:
“Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”

📖 Luke 24:36:
“Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”

Each time, peace comes before any explanation, any mission, any understanding. It is peace that makes speech possible. It soothes fear, restores connection, and prepares the sending forth.

In a society often tense, fragmented, or rushed, taking the time to greet — to say hello, to wish peace — is more than an act of politeness: it is a quiet form of liturgy. It is to confess, through a simple gesture, that the other exists, that they are worthy of being seen, welcomed, and heard.