Some people, when they come before others, do not say "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings), but they replace it with another greeting that is common among some people, such as
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The questioner : Some people, when they come before others, do not offer the greeting of Islam, so they do not say: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings), but they replace it with another greeting that is common among some people, such as: "Ya Allah, greet them," or the like?
The Shaykh : This is also a result of ignorance or negligence. What drives some people to this is either their ignorance of the prescribed matter, or their negligence and indifference. Both are blameworthy, but ignorance is milder than negligence, because the ignorant person follows the correct path, whereas the harm lies in negligence.
Therefore, we advise our brothers who have become accustomed to such practices to abandon this and to begin with the prescribed greeting first, and then greet them second. For example, when he enters upon people or approaches them, he should say: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), and then greet them with appropriate greetings that are not prohibited.
Likewise, if someone enters upon a person and greets him with the prescribed greeting, he should not be content with saying: "Welcome" or "May Allah greet you" or the like, for that does not suffice him; rather, he is sinful if he limits himself to that. That is, if someone says to you: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), it is obligatory for you to respond by saying: "Alayk as-salam" (Upon you be peace) or "Wa alayk as-salam" (And upon you be peace) or "Alaykum" (Upon you all) in the plural, or "Wa alaykum" (And upon you all). If you limit yourself to saying: "Welcome" and "Greetings" or the like, then you have not done what is obligatory upon you regarding the return of the greeting, as Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:86].
The one who responds to the Muslim who says: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) by saying: "Welcome," "Greetings," or "May Allah greet you," has not greeted him with something better than what he was greeted with, nor has he returned the greeting. The point is that the Muslim's saying: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), is a supplication, a supplication that Allah keep you safe from all afflictions, the afflictions of this world and the afflictions of the Hereafter. It is also a declaration of peace and safety, so it is a supplication and a notification of peace and safety. And when you say: "May Allah greet you" or "Welcome and greetings," you have not offered a similar supplication. The most you have done is that you greeted him with this greeting, whereas he greeted you, supplicated for you, and declared you safe. So in his saying: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), there is a greeting, a supplication, and a declaration of safety, whereas in your saying: "Welcome and greetings," there is only a mere greeting. For this reason, one must be mindful of this issue and return the greeting with a similar greeting first, and then with a permissible greeting second.
The Shaykh : This is also a result of ignorance or negligence. What drives some people to this is either their ignorance of the prescribed matter, or their negligence and indifference. Both are blameworthy, but ignorance is milder than negligence, because the ignorant person follows the correct path, whereas the harm lies in negligence.
Therefore, we advise our brothers who have become accustomed to such practices to abandon this and to begin with the prescribed greeting first, and then greet them second. For example, when he enters upon people or approaches them, he should say: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), and then greet them with appropriate greetings that are not prohibited.
Likewise, if someone enters upon a person and greets him with the prescribed greeting, he should not be content with saying: "Welcome" or "May Allah greet you" or the like, for that does not suffice him; rather, he is sinful if he limits himself to that. That is, if someone says to you: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), it is obligatory for you to respond by saying: "Alayk as-salam" (Upon you be peace) or "Wa alayk as-salam" (And upon you be peace) or "Alaykum" (Upon you all) in the plural, or "Wa alaykum" (And upon you all). If you limit yourself to saying: "Welcome" and "Greetings" or the like, then you have not done what is obligatory upon you regarding the return of the greeting, as Allah the Exalted said:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وإذا حييتم بتحية فحيوا بأحسن منها أو ردوهاThe one who responds to the Muslim who says: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) by saying: "Welcome," "Greetings," or "May Allah greet you," has not greeted him with something better than what he was greeted with, nor has he returned the greeting. The point is that the Muslim's saying: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), is a supplication, a supplication that Allah keep you safe from all afflictions, the afflictions of this world and the afflictions of the Hereafter. It is also a declaration of peace and safety, so it is a supplication and a notification of peace and safety. And when you say: "May Allah greet you" or "Welcome and greetings," you have not offered a similar supplication. The most you have done is that you greeted him with this greeting, whereas he greeted you, supplicated for you, and declared you safe. So in his saying: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), there is a greeting, a supplication, and a declaration of safety, whereas in your saying: "Welcome and greetings," there is only a mere greeting. For this reason, one must be mindful of this issue and return the greeting with a similar greeting first, and then with a permissible greeting second.