Kapanlagi.com - The meaning of ahlan wa sahlan is no different from saying welcome. Ahlan wa sahlan is said to welcome the arrival of an eagerly awaited guest. Therefore, the expression ahlan wa sahlan may already be quite familiar to the Indonesian people, who are mostly Muslims.
As a Muslim, honoring guests is a must. The expression ahlan wa sahlan can be one form of effort to honor guests. But did you know that ahlan wa sahlan actually has a very broad meaning? This expression is not just a usual welcome greeting. The meaning of ahlan wa sahlan can also describe respect for guests.
In addition to the brief explanation above, there are still many things that need to be understood about the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan. Therefore, you can directly read the following review that has been summarized by kapanlagi.com from various sources.
1. Meaning of Ahlan Wa Sahlan
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As mentioned earlier, the general meaning of ahlan wa sahlan is understood as a greeting. Ahlan wa sahlan comes from the Arabic language. If broken down, this expression consists of several words, namely 'ahlun' which means 'family' and 'sahlan' or 'sahlun' which means 'easy'.
Based on the literal meaning, ahlan wa sahlan means 'easy family'. If interpreted more deeply, it is reasonable for this expression to be used as a welcome greeting to guests. However, ahlan wa sahlan is not only limited to welcome greetings. This expression can also be used to respectfully invite someone to enter the house with love and respect.
Therefore, the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan can be a warm welcome for guests. With this welcome, the host does not consider the guest as a stranger, but as part of the family.
2. How to Respond to Ahlan Wa Sahlan
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After understanding the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan, it is equally important to know how to respond when encountering this expression. In Islam, repaying kindness with kindness is important. By doing so, both parties will also receive many blessings and goodness.
However, responding to ahlan wa sahlan is not as simple as responding to a welcome greeting in Indonesian, such as with a smile or thank you. This is because, as discussed earlier, ahlan wa sahlan is a term that originates from the Arabic language. And as we know, the Arabic language is bound by gender rules.
Therefore, to respond to the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan, we need to consider the gender of the interlocutor (the person who says ahlan wa sahlan). For more clarity, here are some ways to respond to ahlan wa sahlan based on the gender of the interlocutor, as reported by liputan6.com.
- If receiving the greeting ahlan wa sahlan from a man, the response is to say "Ahlan bika" which means 'Welcome to you too (man)'.
- If receiving the greeting ahlan wa sahlan from a woman, the response is to say "Ahlan biki" which means 'Welcome to you too (woman)'.
- Meanwhile, if receiving the greeting ahlan wa sahlan from a group of people collectively, the response is to say "Ahlan bikum" which means 'Welcome to all of you (plural)'.
3. Etiquette of Honoring Guests in Islam
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Honoring guests in the teachings of Islam is a must. This is as stated by Prophet Muhammad SAW in one of his hadiths, which says: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest." (HR.Bukhari)
Well, besides giving the greeting of ahlan wa sahlan, it turns out there are several things that can be done to honor guests according to Islamic teachings. Here are some etiquettes of receiving guests in Islam, as quoted from brilio.net.
1. Be Polite
When guests arrive, every Muslim is obliged to be polite when receiving guests, by saying greetings and the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan. Not only shown through attitude, good manners in receiving guests are also displayed through clothing. With that, the guests will feel more respected.
2. Providing Hospitality
In addition to hospitality, it turns out that providing a feast is also one of the etiquettes in receiving guests according to Islam. As a Muslim, the host should provide food or drink. Don't let the visiting guests feel thirsty or hungry.
3. Respecting and Serving Overnight Guests
If guests come and stay overnight, then the host must respect and serve them well. This is as stated in the hadith: "Honor the guest for three days, and beyond that is considered as charity from him." (HR.Muttafaqun 'alaihi)
4. Escorting Guests to the Yard when Leaving
When guests are about to leave, the host must escort them to the yard. This is also contained in a hadith which says: "Indeed, it is a recommended practice for someone (the host) to accompany their guest until the doorstep." (HR.Ibnu Majjah)
That is among the explanations of the meaning of ahlan wa sahlan and how to respond to it. Hopefully, it will be beneficial and serve as a provision for you to become a Muslim who can honor guests to the best of your ability.
(kpl/gen/psp)
Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.