Is it permissible to replace the prescribed Islamic greeting with "good morning" or "good evening," and does this suffice in place of the salam?
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The questioner : His second question says: I observe that most members of society today have replaced the prescribed Islamic greeting with one another by saying "good morning" or "good evening." What is your opinion on this phenomenon? Does it suffice in place of the prescribed salam, or not?
The Shaykh : This phenomenon is one that the Muslim community should not be upon, because it replaces the Islamic greeting with mere greeting. When a Muslim says "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), this is a supplication for the one greeted to be safe from worldly and religious afflictions, in addition to what it contains of greeting. It should not be replaced... and this should not be substituted... because this does not contain that supplication. If a person wants to give the prescribed salam, he says "As-salamu alaykum," and then if he wishes, he says "good morning" or "good evening" or "how are you this morning" or "how are you this evening" or the like. And more severe than that is when a person is greeted with "As-salamu alaykum" and he responds by saying "welcome" or "greetings" or "may Allah greet you" or the like, without returning the obligatory response, which is to say "Wa alaykum as-salam" (And upon you be peace). For Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:[An-Nisa 4:86] And if someone supplicates for you with peace and you do not return to him this same supplication, then you have not greeted him with the best, nor have you returned his greeting. It is obligatory for the one who is greeted with the prescribed salam, "As-salamu alaykum," to say "Wa alaykum as-salam."
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This phenomenon is one that the Muslim community should not be upon, because it replaces the Islamic greeting with mere greeting. When a Muslim says "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), this is a supplication for the one greeted to be safe from worldly and religious afflictions, in addition to what it contains of greeting. It should not be replaced... and this should not be substituted... because this does not contain that supplication. If a person wants to give the prescribed salam, he says "As-salamu alaykum," and then if he wishes, he says "good morning" or "good evening" or "how are you this morning" or "how are you this evening" or the like. And more severe than that is when a person is greeted with "As-salamu alaykum" and he responds by saying "welcome" or "greetings" or "may Allah greet you" or the like, without returning the obligatory response, which is to say "Wa alaykum as-salam" (And upon you be peace). For Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وإذا حييتم بتحية فحيوا بأحسن منها أو ردوهاThe questioner : Yes.