If you are in the Zuhr prayer and someone greets you, should you respond or not? And what is preferable for the one who arrives?
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The questioner : Your Eminence! If you are in an obligatory prayer and someone greets you, should you respond or not? And what is preferable for the one who arrives?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for responding with words, it is not permissible, because if you respond with words, the prayer becomes invalid. As for responding with a gesture, there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to respond to the greeting with a gesture, raising his hand to indicate that he had heard it but would not speak, because he was in prayer. However, if the Muslim remains until the one praying completes the prayer, he should respond to him with words. If he leaves, the gesture is sufficient.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for responding with words, it is not permissible, because if you respond with words, the prayer becomes invalid. As for responding with a gesture, there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to respond to the greeting with a gesture, raising his hand to indicate that he had heard it but would not speak, because he was in prayer. However, if the Muslim remains until the one praying completes the prayer, he should respond to him with words. If he leaves, the gesture is sufficient.