The ruling on returning the salam to one who greets with the congregation

Question : But this salam now, if a person greets with the congregation, is it obligatory for the congregation to return it to him?

Answer : No. Although Abu Dawud narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with this salam, the apparent view is that this salam is exchanged among all of them, so each person greets the other, and the second person's salam suffices as a return. One says "As-salamu alaykum," and the second says "As-salamu alaykum." This is the closest view regarding returning this salam. Otherwise, there is no doubt that the followers greet one another with this, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when they were raising their hands and gesturing with them: "What is the matter with you that I see you gesturing with your hands as if they were the tails of fiery horses?"
It was sufficient for one of you to say "As-salamu alaykum" to the one on his right and "As-salamu alaykum" to the one on his left. This indicates that this salam is intended for the one beside him, but since each person greets the other, this suffices for the man.