The Ruling on Greeting and Shaking Hands Between a Disbeliever and a Muslim
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The questioner: If a Muslim meets a disbeliever, is it permissible for him to greet him? And if the disbeliever greets him, is it obligatory for him to respond?The Shaykh: If a Muslim meets a disbeliever, he does not greet him;Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Do not initiate the greeting to the Jews and the Christians).
And if the disbeliever greets the Muslim, it is obligatory for him to respond, but if the Muslim does not know whether the disbeliever said: "Death be upon you," meaning: death,or he said: "Peace be upon you,"He says: and upon you;Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Indeed, the People of the Book greet by saying: Death be upon you,Say: and upon you).
As for if the disbeliever who is greeting says: "Peace be upon you" with clear, explicit wording,there is no harm in saying: "Peace be upon you," but he does not add,For example: the disbeliever greeted and said: "Peace be upon you,"And you said: and peace be upon you,Or I said: and upon you,Do not add, say: "Welcome, welcome"; because this makes him proud of himself.
The questioner: And shaking hands?The Shaykh: As for shaking hands, if he extends his hand to you, then extend your hand to him; otherwise, do not initiate shaking hands with them.
And if the disbeliever greets the Muslim, it is obligatory for him to respond, but if the Muslim does not know whether the disbeliever said: "Death be upon you," meaning: death,or he said: "Peace be upon you,"He says: and upon you;Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Indeed, the People of the Book greet by saying: Death be upon you,Say: and upon you).
As for if the disbeliever who is greeting says: "Peace be upon you" with clear, explicit wording,there is no harm in saying: "Peace be upon you," but he does not add,For example: the disbeliever greeted and said: "Peace be upon you,"And you said: and peace be upon you,Or I said: and upon you,Do not add, say: "Welcome, welcome"; because this makes him proud of himself.
The questioner: And shaking hands?The Shaykh: As for shaking hands, if he extends his hand to you, then extend your hand to him; otherwise, do not initiate shaking hands with them.