The Ruling on Spreading the Salam

The questioner:
The Shi'ah hold that the Sunnah commands spreading the salam. Do we say it is obligatory? Do we say it is obligatory to spread the salam?

The Shaykh:
May Allah preserve the people of the Sunnah. Note that the Messenger commanded this.

The presenter:
The majority do not say that the Sunnah...

The Shaykh:
(peace and blessings be upon him) said, "If you meet him, greet him with the salam." It is well known among scholars that initiating the salam is a recommended practice (sunnah) and returning it is obligatory, but the view that both are obligatory is better. The one who initiates is the best of the two. This is the apparent meaning of the Sunnah.

The presenter:
So it has several... The majority...

The Shaykh:
He said, (peace and blessings be upon him), "If you meet someone, greet them with the salam." If you meet your brother, greet him with the salam.

The presenter:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Shaykh:
Yes.