What is the ruling on greeting someone whose religion you do not know, whether they are Muslim or a disbeliever? This is because if I leave them without greeting, it may lead to hatred and distance from Islam.
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh is asked: What is the ruling on greeting someone whose religion you do not know, whether they are Muslim or a disbeliever? This is because if I leave them without greeting, it may lead to hatred and distance from Islam?
The Shaykh : This depends on the community. If the majority of the community are non-Muslims, then one does not greet them, based on what? The majority, because the majority takes the ruling of the whole when knowledge is difficult to obtain. However, if the majority of the community are Muslims, then let him greet them. And if it happens that he greets a non-Muslim, there is no blame on him, because he did not know. Then perhaps his greeting to the non-Muslim will be a cause for what? For his Islam and his turning toward Islam. The conclusion is that if the majority of the community are Muslims, then what? Let him greet them. If the majority are non-Muslims.
The Shaykh : This depends on the community. If the majority of the community are non-Muslims, then one does not greet them, based on what? The majority, because the majority takes the ruling of the whole when knowledge is difficult to obtain. However, if the majority of the community are Muslims, then let him greet them. And if it happens that he greets a non-Muslim, there is no blame on him, because he did not know. Then perhaps his greeting to the non-Muslim will be a cause for what? For his Islam and his turning toward Islam. The conclusion is that if the majority of the community are Muslims, then what? Let him greet them. If the majority are non-Muslims.