Is it permissible for the worshippers to exchange greetings inside the mosque while the imam is on the pulpit?

Question:
Is it permissible for the worshippers to exchange greetings inside the mosque while the imam is on the pulpit? And is it permissible to return the greeting to someone who greets you? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade speaking while the imam is delivering the sermon, and he informed that whoever speaks while the imam is delivering the sermon has done in vain, and whoever has done in vain has no Friday prayer, meaning that its reward is invalidated, but he is not ordered to repeat the prayer; rather, its reward is invalidated. This indicates the prohibition of speaking while the imam is delivering the sermon, whether by initiating the greeting or by returning it. So, if someone enters while the imam is delivering the sermon, he should listen and not speak anything, neither a greeting nor anything else. Likewise, those who are listening to the sermon do not return the greeting. If an ignorant person enters and greets, they do not return it to him, because this is among the speech that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade. As for the one who enters while the imam is on the pulpit but has not started the sermon, there is no harm, or it is recommended for him, hmm? to greet. The thing to be avoided is the time of the sermon, not before it or after it. Yes. May Allah bless you.