How does a Muslim offer the salam when he passes by a group that includes Muslims and Arab Christians?

Question : If a person passes by a group containing Muslims and Arab Christians, all of whom are Arabs, what does he do? Yes, they are Arabs. He says, "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), or "As-salamu alaykum ayyuha al-Muslimun" (Peace be upon you, O Muslims).

Answer : No, he should not say "As-salamu alaykum ayyuha al-Muslimun" (Peace be upon you, O Muslims); rather, he should say "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you). Because if he specifies the salam to the believers, it may lead to some fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). He says "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), and actions are by intentions. We may also derive a benefit from this, which is that the intention specifies the general. The intention specifies the general, and that is the case. If a person mentions a general term but intends a specific one, it is according to his intention. Even if he swears an oath about something and uses a general term but intends the specific, it is according to his intention. For example, if he says, "By Allah, I will eat food," and his intention is not to eat food containing fat, for instance, then it is according to his intention, restricted to what he intended.