Some people, may Allah guide them, also say: If one passes by people who are sitting, or passes by a person and nods his head at him intending to greet him, do we respond to him or not?
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The questioner : Some people, may Allah guide them, also say: If one passes by a group of people who are sitting, or passes by a person and nods his head at him intending to greet him, do we respond to him or not? And he says, "And he is a relative?"
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory to respond to such a thing, because the response is only obligatory for one who greets with the prescribed greeting, which is saying, "As-salamu alaykum." This is the one to whom one must respond. As for one who only nods his head or only waves his hand, he does not deserve a response because it is a departure from what is prescribed. However, in this situation, one should clarify to him that the prescribed greeting is to say, "As-salamu alaykum."
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So that he does not feel any hardship or enmity toward you, and so that he also benefits from your words to him, because this is the prescribed greeting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is also like a person saying, "Ahlan wa sahlan" (Welcome) or "Marhaban" (Welcome). This is not the prescribed greeting; rather, the prescribed greeting is "As-salamu alaykum," and the one greeted responds by saying, "Wa alaykum as-salam."
The questioner : Yes.
The next question.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory to respond to such a thing, because the response is only obligatory for one who greets with the prescribed greeting, which is saying, "As-salamu alaykum." This is the one to whom one must respond. As for one who only nods his head or only waves his hand, he does not deserve a response because it is a departure from what is prescribed. However, in this situation, one should clarify to him that the prescribed greeting is to say, "As-salamu alaykum."
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So that he does not feel any hardship or enmity toward you, and so that he also benefits from your words to him, because this is the prescribed greeting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is also like a person saying, "Ahlan wa sahlan" (Welcome) or "Marhaban" (Welcome). This is not the prescribed greeting; rather, the prescribed greeting is "As-salamu alaykum," and the one greeted responds by saying, "Wa alaykum as-salam."
The questioner : Yes.
The next question.