Salam

Q:The importance of Assalam-o-Elukum and Musafah on the organization culture and efficiency of an enterprise. RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF SAYING ASSALAM-O-ELUKUM AND HAND SHAKING a.

SAYING ASSALAM-O-ELUKUM:

“But if ye enter houses salute each other a greeting or blessing and purity as from Allah.(sura 24 Ayah 61) Saying or offering Salam is an act that has both evident and dormant benefits. Our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) mentioned its importance repeatedly. (1) Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umru Bin Al Aas (R.A.H) quotes that the Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H) said,” Try to spread saying Salam, you will reach paradise safely.” (2) A companion of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) asked him,”Which deed is the best in Islam?” The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said,”To provide food to the hunger and to pay Salam to all whether you know or do not know him.” (3) Hazrat Abu-Hurrairah (R.A.H) quotes,” “The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said that you couldn’t get paradise until you become a true Muslim. This is only possible when you love each other. An act which produce love &affection amongst you is to spread saying Salam to each other. By the religious point of view, the various benefits of saying Salam are as follows. (a) It is a sort of prayer by which one wishes blessings for the other person. (b) It encourages the feeling of love &affection amongst each other. (c) One gets ten rewards by offering Assalam-o-elukum to the other Muslim, twenty by saying Assalam-o-elukum-wa 2

Rahmatullah and thirty by saying Assalam-o elukum-waRahmatullah-wa-Baraktah. Hazrat Abu-Ummama (R.A.H) quotes that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said,”Amongst the people the one who is most close to God is that who offers Salam first. Hazrat Ibn-e-Masud (R.A.H) quotes that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said,”The one who offers Salam first is free from proudness.” WHEN TO OFFER SALAM (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

When two Muslims meet whether they know or do not know each other. At the time of entering into a house or leaving it. At the time of joining &leaving a meeting. The younger should pay Salam to elder, the passenger or passerby to the one who is sitting or is stationary and group of smaller people to the group of larger people. A single person can offer Salam on the behalf of a group &the reply can also be given vice versa.

b.HANDSHAKING During meeting hand shaking in addition to paying Salam is a much-likened act. It indicates the extent of love, happiness, affection and respect being conveyed amongst each other. Hazrat Ibn Masud (R.A.H) quotes that the Prophet (P.B.U.H) said,”The paying of salam ends in handshaking.” Hazrat Barah Bin Azib (R.A.H) quotes that the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said,”When two muslims meet, have handshaking and pray to God, they will be pardoned.”

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CULTURE IN PAKISTAN REGARDING PAYING SALAM AND HANDSHAKING A handshake is the most common greeting in Pakistan, although close friends may embrace if meeting after a long absence. Women might greet each other with a handshake or hug. It is not appropriate for a man to shake hands with a woman or to touch her in public. Greetings often include inquiries about one's health and family, which can take some time. In Pakistan, the most common greeting is Assalaam alaikum ("May peace be upon you"). The reply is Waalaikum assalaam ("And peace also upon you"). "Good-bye" is Khodha haafiz. Male friends may walk hand in hand or with their arms over each other's shoulders. There is a long tradition of hospitality in Pakistan, and friends and relatives visit each other frequently. Hosts take pride in making guests feel welcome and whenever possible will greet each person individually. Visitors are usually offered coffee, tea, or soft drinks, and may be invited to eat a meal. It is usual to accept, although one may decline by offering a polite explanation. If well acquainted with the hosts or if the occasion is special, guests often bring fruit, sweets, or a gift for the children or the home, but anything that is expensive may embarrass the hosts. It is customary to socialize primarily before a meal and then to stay at least a half hour after the meal is finished. In traditional homes, men and women do not socialize together, but it is now common for educated urban dwellers of both genders to mingle socially.

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HANDSHAKING AND PERSONALITY According to Psychologists there is a relationship between handshaking &personality. A firm handshake was related positively to extraversion, emotional expressiveness & openness to experience and related negatively to shyness and neuroticism. The handshakes are rated according to the following dimensions of the grip. • • • • •

Temperature. Dryness. Strength. Extent. Consistency.

However the strength of the handshake was positively correlated strongly with aggression, dominance, exhibition and rational dominance and negatively correlated with sociability and defense of status (neuroticism). However regardless of any empirical support for a relation between handshaking and personality it is generally believed that the handshake is an important component of the first impression that one forms of a person. Handshaking is a common greeting behaviour & is often one of the first observations that individuals make of each other upon meeting. Thus, the handshake may be a basis for some of the initial impressions that an individual forms about another. Although handshakes are anecdotally believed to communicate information about a person’s personality, little systematic research has been done on the relation between handshaking and personality. Indeed, the extent to which handshaking is sufficiently stable across time and consistent across situations to reflect stable individual differences are largely unknown. Handshaking has also historically been more common among men than it has been among 5

women or between men and women. However, we know little about how gender may be involved in relation between personality, initial impression and handshaking.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HANDSHAKING Handshakes can differ in a variety of ways. There are individual differences in the dimensions of strength, duration, vigour, and grip as well as difference in how the hand is offered. There are number of dimensions on which handshakes differ, such as limp versus firm, dry versus clammy, or warm versus cold. Accompanying features, such as eye contact and skin texture, are also important. Handshaking has historically been viewed as a male activity. Although probably apocryphal, legends about handshaking imply that the custom originated to provide a signal between male combatants that they would be nonaggressive.

PAYING SALAM AND HANDSHAKING AS ETIQUETTES OF BUSINESS “There is no accomplishment so easy to acquire as politeness and none more profitable.” George Bernand Shaw Today in the fiercely competitive business arena, etiquette is simply another tool you need. While etiquette alone won’t get you anywhere, it will give you that extra edge that will make the difference between you and another person who is just as smart. The following are the important business etiquettes for today. (1) How to make an entrance and work the room. (2) Handshaking: The ultimate greeting. (3) Remembering names. (4) Introduce yourself and others. (5) Conversation skills. 6

(6) Business arena communication. (7) Forms of address. (8) Eye contact. (9) Rising to the occasion. (10) Nonverbal communication.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA To succeed in a global economy, executives must be aware of culture, styles, and expressions that are internationally non-offensive. In order to establish a relationship that will be mutually beneficial, knowledge of international protocol is indispensable in today’s global arena. The following non-technical strategies and tactics are required to compete in an economy that demands mental flexibility and alertness. (1) Rank and status. (2) Business introduction. (3) Impress clients and counterparts by knowing their culture. (4) Gestures those are offensive in certain cultures. (5) Strategic Do’s and Don’t.

“Successful business relationships begin with successful personal relationships and cultural understanding.” Corporate Leader

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HOW PAYING SALAM AND HAND SHAKING HELPS IN MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPS ORGANIZATION CULTURE.. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20)

It helps in motivating people so as to improve their performance and to achieve their individual and organization’s goals. It encourages group dynamics and development of teams. It decreases occupational stress. It improves employee’s turnover and decreases absenteeism. It helps the process of communication by making it more effective, developing the communication network and overcoming the barriers of communications. It helps in delegating responsibility and authority. It helps in developing a friendly organization culture. It helps in decision-making and its implementation. It helps in bringing change. It improves co-ordination. It helps in goal setting. It helps in resolving conflicts. It improves negotiating skills of the manager. It decreases occupational stress & improves job satisfaction. It helps in the development of informal relationships in an organization, which improves and quickens communication. It improves the impact of organization and enterprise in the external environment (market and society), which helps in organization’s development. It helps in developing social relationships both internal and external of the organization. It helps in gaining information so that this resource can be properly utilized. It helps in selling and marketing by developing customer relationships. It helps in sales promotion by goodwill and publicity.

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(21) It helps in developing a culture of participative management in the organization. (22) It helps in seeking consultation. (23) It helps in carrying out human resource development programmes. (24) It helps in managing people by: o Dealing with stress. o Planning time. o Using time effectively and efficiently. (25) It helps in promoting decentralization in the organization. (26) It helps the manager in carrying out the functions of direction. i. Motivation. ii. Job satisfaction. iii. Building up of morale.

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