The Ruling on Greeting in Shops and Offices

The questioner:
Seeking permission three times is prescribed when entering places other than homes, for example, when conducting a transaction at a certain office that one wants to complete. Is it three times?

The Shaykh:
Whoever comes to the people of the shop, or a stall, or something like that, says, "Peace be upon you."

The questioner:
I mean, may Allah reward you, for example, a transaction at a government office where they might refuse. That is, you tried the first time and they refused, the second time and they refused, and the third time, for example, to complete this transaction?

The Shaykh:
No. Even if you come and he says, "Peace be upon you," in his place, whether it is our stall, a shop, or otherwise, in any place where it is easy for you to say, "Peace be upon you," then you ask about your need, you ask about the transaction, even a hundred times. In every sitting, you greet, even a hundred times.