When I was serving as a faculty member at the Medical School in Kayseri in Turkey, another faculty member and I used to take an early morning walk around a hill on certain days of the week. Every morning, someone who had arrived before us would be coming down the hill with his face almost completely covered, while we would just be starting our climb.
The next day, we encountered the same person again. As we were climbing the hill, he was once again descending after finishing his walk. My colleague said, “Who could this person be? His entire face is covered. Is he a human being, or some mysterious creature?”
A few moments later, as this person passed right beside us with his head and eyes still covered, I greeted him by saying, “Good morning! How are you?” He immediately lifted the covering from his face and replied warmly, “Good morning, sir.”
I introduced myself, and he introduced himself as well. It turned out that he was the general manager of a factory.
The following morning, when my colleague and I went for our usual walk, this same gentleman greeted us from nearly fifty meters away, calling each of us by name: “Good morning, gentlemen! How are you?” We returned his greeting, exchanged a few pleasant words, and continued on our way.
I then turned to my colleague and said, “If we had not greeted this gentleman, we might have spent months wondering who he was, making comments like, ‘Who is this person? Is he some mysterious being?’ But after greeting him and introducing ourselves, as you can see, he now greets us before we even greet him. And now, we have become friends.”
In reality, greeting one another at every opportunity, getting acquainted, and then nurturing those acquaintances into lasting friendships is not only a beautiful human behavior but also a human responsibility.
I experienced a similar incident in Africa.
While traveling from one African country to another, we had already received our boarding passes and were waiting at the airport. There was an empty seat next to a gentleman, so I asked, “May I sit here?” He replied, “Of course,” and I took the seat.
I greeted him and introduced myself, and he did the same. We discovered that we were traveling to the same country and even to the same city. Our seats on the plane were assigned separately, but since the seat next to him remained vacant, I moved there after boarding.
During the flight, I told him about myself and my profession. He explained that he was the general manager of a large construction company and was traveling to inspect one of the company’s projects in that city.
I told him that after landing we would be having breakfast at the home of a friend in the city and invited him to join us. He gladly accepted.
A car had come to pick him up at the airport, while we had our own vehicle. We drove to our destination, and he followed us in his car.
At the house, I introduced our guest to our host and to the other guests who had come for breakfast. The breakfast took place in a warm, friendly, and sincere atmosphere. Our hosts also introduced themselves. The host was the general director of the schools in that region, and his wife was a teacher.
Our guest was deeply impressed by the hospitality. I suggested that, if his schedule permitted, we could visit the schools together. He replied, “I have a meeting waiting for me, so I must leave.”
Before he departed, I invited him to dinner that evening and gave him the address. He came to dinner as promised. There he met local businesspeople and teachers. He greatly appreciated the warm hospitality of our host and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
When we returned to the city where we were staying, our guest had already arrived there before us. Once again, we spent time together with our friends, and he had the opportunity to meet them as well. To this day, we continue to stay in touch and strengthen our friendship. We exchange messages regularly.
A greeting is a beautiful, brief, almost magical, and love-filled means of communication that connects people, introduces them to one another, and often turns strangers into friends. A greeting is the first step toward getting to know one another; acquaintance leads to trust, and trust is the foundation of consultation, cooperation, and collective wisdom. Great transformations often begin with a simple but sincere greeting.
A greeting may be expressed in many different ways. It can be spoken aloud, conveyed through kind actions, a friendly gesture, a raised hand, a gentle smile, or a respectful nod. It may begin with simple words such as, “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “How are you?” and continue by introducing ourselves to one another.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, many people no longer make regular use of greetings. They often underestimate their value or simply overlook them. Without blaming anyone, those who understand the importance of greeting others can take every opportunity to do so—while shopping, walking along the street, riding an elevator, climbing the stairs, or meeting someone in any public place. A smile, a nod, or a few kind words in the local language are often all that is needed.
If circumstances permit, the greeting can naturally develop into a brief conversation. People introduce themselves by sharing their names and occupations. If appropriate, they may also exchange telephone numbers and email addresses. More often than not, once one person shares his or her contact information, the other gladly does the same.
Afterwards, occasional messages or emails can be exchanged simply to ask how the other person is doing or to extend invitations to various programs and gatherings.
If the invitation is accepted, the friendship grows stronger. Later, when that friend extends an invitation in return, we gladly accept if our schedule allows. In this way, we become acquainted not only with that individual but also with his or her circle of family members, friends, and colleagues. Likewise, our own friends become acquainted with them. Thus, the circle of friendship continues to expand.
Over time, these friendships should mature into what Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi beautifully described as “friendships that can never be sacrificed.” At this stage, people know one another deeply, sincerely care about each other’s lives, and strive to help one another in times of need. As trust grows, they naturally introduce their own friends and acquaintances to one another, causing the circle of friendship to widen even further.
Whenever circumstances are lawful, ethical, appropriate, and mutually respectful, beginning relationships with a greeting and nurturing them over time is both remarkably easy and profoundly valuable.
Indeed, every meaningful dialogue between people begins with a greeting. That is why greeting carries such great significance. It is, in many ways, the key that unlocks the door to dialogue. As dialogue develops, people gradually become like brothers and sisters to one another.
There are many beautiful sayings that emphasize the importance of greeting others:
“A greeting is the shortest bridge between two hearts.”
“A single greeting may become the first step toward a lifelong friendship.”
“To greet someone is to say, ‘I have noticed you, and I value you.'”
“A warm smile and a greeting are two gifts that cost nothing but whose value is beyond measure.”
“As greetings become more widespread within a society, so do trust and brotherhood.”
“A greeting opens doors not with a key, but with the heart.”
“A greeting accompanied by a smile may become the beginning of a day filled with happiness.”
“A greeting is the most beautiful expression that nurtures love and diminishes resentment.”
“Where greetings are absent, sincerity is difficult to find; where sincerity is absent, peace is difficult to achieve.”
“The finest word that shortens the distance between people is a heartfelt greeting.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) also highlighted the importance of greeting others in the following hadiths:
“Spread greetings of peace among yourselves.”
“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something that, if you do it, will cause you to love one another? Spread greetings of peace among yourselves.”
Mevlana (Jalal al-Din Rumi) likewise expressed this profound truth:
“A greeting offered from the heart is worth more than a thousand words.”
Greeting is the beginning of getting to know one another; acquaintance leads to trust, and trust is the first step toward consultation, cooperation, and collective wisdom. Great changes often begin with a small but sincere greeting.
Through the habit of greeting others, friendships gradually develop with people from different languages, religions, cultures, countries, and backgrounds. Day by day, the number of these friendships increases. Built without hidden motives or expectations, these bridges of friendship eventually become pathways over which people regularly travel. Family members and friends whom we already know also begin crossing these bridges, expanding the network even further.
As the number of these bridges grows throughout the world, so too does the number of genuine friendships. People with many friends become richer—not primarily in material wealth, but in humanity. Such enrichment brings lasting happiness.
One of the longest-running studies in the world, conducted by Harvard University and still continuing today, has reached a remarkable conclusion: the happiest people are not necessarily those with the greatest wealth, the highest positions, or the greatest fame. Rather, they are those who have cultivated strong human relationships and have many meaningful friendships.
A greeting may seem like a small gesture, but it often produces great results. A greeting leads to an introduction, an introduction develops into a friendship, and friendship blossoms into mutual understanding, trust, and brotherhood. If we wish to build a more peaceful world, bring people closer together, and create more harmonious societies, one of the simplest and most beautiful things every person can do is to greet others sincerely. For sometimes the greatest transformations begin with a small but heartfelt greeting.
To greet someone is to say, “I am ready to talk with you, understand you, and listen to you.” In this sense, a greeting is the key that opens the door to dialogue.
A greeting is small in size but immense in its influence. It may consist of only one word, yet it carries within it an entire world of goodwill. Time and again, it has marked the beginning of enduring friendships, cherished memories, and lasting peace.
Therefore, our responsibility is to initiate these friendships, nurture them, preserve them, and encourage others to develop the same beautiful habit. The more friends and acquaintances we have, the richer and happier our lives become. If such a simple, humane effort can contribute so greatly to lifelong happiness, why should we deprive ourselves of it?
So, let us multiply our greetings and strengthen our friendships.
What do you think?
