Ruling on returning the greeting during prayer
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His Eminence the Shaykh: Is it a recommended practice (sunnah) to return the greeting during prayer, or is it better to leave the greeting to the one who is praying?The Shaykh: You have just asked two questions: whether to return the greeting or to leave it.
The questioner: Which of the two is better?The Shaykh: Returning the greeting is from the Muslim, and leaving it is from the Muslim. So which of the two matters do you want to know about?The questioner: I want to know about the one who is praying. Is it better for him to return the greeting with a gesture of the hand, or not?
The one who is praying returns the greeting with a gesture, as stated in the hadith. Then, if he completes the prayer and the Muslim is still present, he returns the greeting with words. If the Muslim has already left, the gesture is sufficient.
The questioner: Which of the two is better?The Shaykh: Returning the greeting is from the Muslim, and leaving it is from the Muslim. So which of the two matters do you want to know about?The questioner: I want to know about the one who is praying. Is it better for him to return the greeting with a gesture of the hand, or not?
The one who is praying returns the greeting with a gesture, as stated in the hadith. Then, if he completes the prayer and the Muslim is still present, he returns the greeting with words. If the Muslim has already left, the gesture is sufficient.