Greeting the general public
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 5801 )
Q2: Since (As-salamu alaykum) is the greeting of a believer to a believer, is it permissible to offer it to the general public without exception?
A2: It is the right of a Muslim over another Muslim, if he meets him, to greet him. It is established from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1525 Just as it is his right to return the greeting to the one who initiated it; for Allah Mighty and Majestic said:
[An-Nisa 4:86] As for the non-Muslim, whether a mushrik or from the People of the Book, it is not permissible to initiate the greeting to them; for it is established from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 2167a . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: Since (As-salamu alaykum) is the greeting of a believer to a believer, is it permissible to offer it to the general public without exception?
A2: It is the right of a Muslim over another Muslim, if he meets him, to greet him. It is established from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A Muslim has six duties towards another Muslim.” When asked what they were he replied, “When you meet him salute him ; when he issues an invitation to you, accept it; when he asks your advice give it to him ; when he sneezes and praises God say, ‘God have mercy on you’; when he is ill visit him ; and when he dies follow him to the grave.
حق المسلم على المسلم ست، قيل: ما هن يا رسول الله؟ قال: إذا لقيته فسلم عليه، وإذا دعاك فأجبه، وإذا استنصحك فانصح له، وإذا عطس فحمد الله فشمته، وإذا مرض فعده، وإذا مات فاتبعهAnd when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاDo not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it.
لا تبدؤوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلام، فإذا لقيتم أحدهم في طريق فاضطروه إلى أضيقه
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.