Greeting a Rafidi neighbor and accepting his invitation

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, I have a neighbor from the Rafidah. Is it permissible for me to initiate the salam to him, and should I accept his invitation to a feast?

Answer:
As for the issue of initiating the salam, there is consideration involved. Do not initiate the salam, but if he greets you, return the greeting. As for accepting his invitation, yes, as long as he is your neighbor, accept his invitation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to accept the invitations of the Jews, so accept his invitation on the basis of neighborly rights. Neighbors have three categories: a neighbor who has three rights, which is the close Muslim neighbor; a neighbor who has two rights, which is the Muslim neighbor who is not close, having the right of neighborliness and the right of Islam; and a neighbor who has one right, which is the non-Muslim neighbor, having only the right of neighborliness. This person has the right of neighborliness.