If a disbeliever comes to you and initiates the greeting, is it permissible to respond to him by saying, "And upon you is peace"? And what is the manner of responding to him?
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The questioner : If a disbeliever comes to you and initiates the greeting, is it permissible to respond to him by saying, "And upon you is peace"? And what is the manner of responding to him? And is it permissible for you to initiate the greeting with him? What is your opinion? May Allah guide you to good deeds.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. It is not permissible to initiate the greeting with a disbeliever by saying to him, "Peace be upon you." However, if he greets you, you respond to him with the phrase I am saying now: "And upon you." This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this regarding the People of the Book, and those other than them are like them, or even lower in status.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
Also, this is a message from one of the listeners, and he says:
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. It is not permissible to initiate the greeting with a disbeliever by saying to him, "Peace be upon you." However, if he greets you, you respond to him with the phrase I am saying now: "And upon you." This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this regarding the People of the Book, and those other than them are like them, or even lower in status.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
Also, this is a message from one of the listeners, and he says: