Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews and Christians, and force them to the narrowest part of the road; what is its explanation?
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The sixth question of the fatwa number (5313)
Q 6: Hadith:, what is its explanation, and how does the Muslim reconcile it with the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) good treatment of the disbelievers, such as visiting their sick, accepting their gifts, and giving Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul his shirt to shroud his father in?
A 6: The text of the hadith, as in (Sahih Muslim ):, and in a narration by Muslim : , and in another: , and in another: , and none of the polytheists was named. The meaning of the hadith is that it is not permissible to initiate the greeting of peace to a disbeliever; because the prohibition implies prohibition, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited initiating the greeting to them; due to his saying: Sahih Muslim 2167a As for when they greet, he returns to them (and upon you) by the evidence of what Muslim narrated in his Sahih: Sahih Muslim 2163a And al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) clarified: that the meaning of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1602Sahih (Darussalam) He said: Our scholars said: The front of the road is not left for the dhimmi, but he is forced to the narrowest part if the Muslims are using the road. If the road is free of congestion, there is no harm. They said: Let the narrowing be such that he does not
fall into a pit or have a wall or the like strike him. End of quote. There is no contradiction between this hadith and what occurred from him (peace and blessings be upon him) of good treatment of the disbelievers, such as visiting their sick, accepting their gifts, and giving Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul his shirt to shroud him in, for the good treatment is intended to reconcile them, call them to Islam, and encourage them in it. And the summary of the matter is: That what is of the nature of kindness and good conduct, and reciprocating kindness with kindness, we do it toward them to reconcile their hearts, and let the hand of the Muslims be the upper hand. And what is of the nature of making the soul feel pride, dignity, and high status, we do not treat them with it; such as initiating the greeting to them as a salutation, and allowing them the front of the road as an honor for them; because they are not worthy of that due to their disbelief. And if deception in speech is feared from them, they are answered with a general statement without harshness or obscenity, such as: returning the greeting to them with the word: (and upon you). And by this, the hadiths are reconciled. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 6: Hadith:
Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews and Christians, and force them to the narrowest part of the road
لا تبدأوا اليهود والنصارى بالسلام واضطروهم إلى أضيق الطريقA 6: The text of the hadith, as in (Sahih Muslim ):
Do not initiate the greeting of peace to the Jews or the Christians; when you meet one of them on a road, force him to the narrowest part of it
لا تبدأوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلام، إذا لقيتم أحدهم في طريق فاضطروهم إلى أضيقهWhen you meet the Jews
إذا لقيتم اليهودWhen you meet the People of the Book
إذا لقيتم أهل الكتابWhen you meet them
إذا لقيتموهمDo not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you
لا تبدؤا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلامWhen the People of the Book offer you salutations, you should say: The same to you.
إذا سلم عليكم أهل الكتاب فقولوا: وعليكمAnd if one you meets one of them in the path, then force him to its narrow portion.
فإذا لقيتم أحدهم في الطريق فاضطروه إلى أضيقهfall into a pit or have a wall or the like strike him. End of quote. There is no contradiction between this hadith and what occurred from him (peace and blessings be upon him) of good treatment of the disbelievers, such as visiting their sick, accepting their gifts, and giving Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul his shirt to shroud him in, for the good treatment is intended to reconcile them, call them to Islam, and encourage them in it. And the summary of the matter is: That what is of the nature of kindness and good conduct, and reciprocating kindness with kindness, we do it toward them to reconcile their hearts, and let the hand of the Muslims be the upper hand. And what is of the nature of making the soul feel pride, dignity, and high status, we do not treat them with it; such as initiating the greeting to them as a salutation, and allowing them the front of the road as an honor for them; because they are not worthy of that due to their disbelief. And if deception in speech is feared from them, they are answered with a general statement without harshness or obscenity, such as: returning the greeting to them with the word: (and upon you). And by this, the hadiths are reconciled. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.