The Form of the Salam and How to Respond to It

The questioner:
And upon you be peace.

The Shaykh:
Yes. What is it?

The questioner:
Upon Satan.

The Shaykh:
This is how they used to greet the Jews, saying "As-sam 'alaykum" (death be upon you), thereby invoking death. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you), so that our supplication is answered against them and their supplication is not answered against us, whether you intended death or intended something else. And it is necessary. Yes.

The questioner:
When one person greets another.

The Shaykh:
Hmm?

Another questioner:
He says "As-salamu 'alayka" (peace be upon you) and he says "As-salamu 'alaykum" (peace be upon you).

The Shaykh:
It is better if he says "As-salamu 'alayka," there is no harm, and if he says "As-salamu 'alaykum," there is no harm. Both have come down. Yes.

The questioner:
Those who greet with a greeting other than speech,

The Shaykh:
I do not know of any harm in it. If he says, "How are you, so-and-so? How are you? Or how are your children? Or what did you do? Or such things," Abu al-Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah and a group of scholars stated explicitly that this is not the salam. Yes.

The questioner:
But we are preparing the praise to Allah.

The Shaykh:
Yes, Abu al-Hasan al-Hanbali recommended it, Abu al-Hasan al-Hanbali recommended it until one is mocked, until it is said, "May Allah have mercy on you." Yes.