The Ruling on the Military Salute
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
What is your opinion on what is known as the military salute, and does it reach the level of shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
The Shaykh:
What is the military salute? I do not know it; the questioner did not define it.
The questioner:
Do you mean, Shaykh, greeting the superior officer?
The Shaykh:
A required greeting.
The questioner:
Other than the salam.
The Shaykh:
Yes.
The questioner:
Pointing with the hand.
The Shaykh:
A mere gesture does not involve prohibition. A mere gesture with the hand is permissible; what is forbidden is bowing and submission. Bowing is what is forbidden. As for merely gesturing with the hand, a Muslim sometimes gestures if he does not hear the salam because of distance or noise; in that case, it is recommended that he gesture with his hand, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes gestured with his hand while giving the salam. However, one does not suffice with the gesture alone; rather, he says the words of the salam along with it. He does not suffice with the gesture alone; rather, he says the words of the salam. In any case, a mere gesture is a simple matter. A gesture with the hand, that is fine. He does not say "As-salamu alaykum" and leave without a salam from those who are prevented from giving the salam.
The questioner:
Yes, they are forbidden from saying "As-salamu alaykum."
The Shaykh:
Well, he gestures like this and says "As-salamu alaykum." Is he forbidden from saying "As-salamu alaykum"? He says the salam in order to fulfill the sunnah (recommended practice). He says the salam verbally, he utters it and gestures with his hand. There is no problem.
Another questioner:
To clarify further, this greeting, if he did not greet him, if he acquired the salam but did not greet him in the known and recognized manner among them as a greeting, he said: You do not greet him, you greet this corner.
The Shaykh:
I did not say that he connects only to the salam; he gives the salam and raises his hand, that does not contradict.
Another questioner:
But the intended meaning of this salute is for the Messenger, as it is said. It is emphasized, O Shaykh, meaning one may be punished. "And upon you be peace." He says: It is the rank; if you do not respect me, respect the rank. That is what is intended by it, and that is the reality.
The Shaykh:
By Allah, this is a matter that requires study and detail. I see that the question should be written and submitted to the Ifta authority to be studied, if Allah wills, and the situation in it should be observed. Yes, yes.
What is your opinion on what is known as the military salute, and does it reach the level of shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
The Shaykh:
What is the military salute? I do not know it; the questioner did not define it.
The questioner:
Do you mean, Shaykh, greeting the superior officer?
The Shaykh:
A required greeting.
The questioner:
Other than the salam.
The Shaykh:
Yes.
The questioner:
Pointing with the hand.
The Shaykh:
A mere gesture does not involve prohibition. A mere gesture with the hand is permissible; what is forbidden is bowing and submission. Bowing is what is forbidden. As for merely gesturing with the hand, a Muslim sometimes gestures if he does not hear the salam because of distance or noise; in that case, it is recommended that he gesture with his hand, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes gestured with his hand while giving the salam. However, one does not suffice with the gesture alone; rather, he says the words of the salam along with it. He does not suffice with the gesture alone; rather, he says the words of the salam. In any case, a mere gesture is a simple matter. A gesture with the hand, that is fine. He does not say "As-salamu alaykum" and leave without a salam from those who are prevented from giving the salam.
The questioner:
Yes, they are forbidden from saying "As-salamu alaykum."
The Shaykh:
Well, he gestures like this and says "As-salamu alaykum." Is he forbidden from saying "As-salamu alaykum"? He says the salam in order to fulfill the sunnah (recommended practice). He says the salam verbally, he utters it and gestures with his hand. There is no problem.
Another questioner:
To clarify further, this greeting, if he did not greet him, if he acquired the salam but did not greet him in the known and recognized manner among them as a greeting, he said: You do not greet him, you greet this corner.
The Shaykh:
I did not say that he connects only to the salam; he gives the salam and raises his hand, that does not contradict.
Another questioner:
But the intended meaning of this salute is for the Messenger, as it is said. It is emphasized, O Shaykh, meaning one may be punished. "And upon you be peace." He says: It is the rank; if you do not respect me, respect the rank. That is what is intended by it, and that is the reality.
The Shaykh:
By Allah, this is a matter that requires study and detail. I see that the question should be written and submitted to the Ifta authority to be studied, if Allah wills, and the situation in it should be observed. Yes, yes.
Source
الفوزان -أشرطة- أسئلة وأجوبة من دروس التوحيد - الفوزان - أسئلة وأجوبة - ٠١ — archive.org (5:22)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.