I am a university student, and there are some non-Muslims studying with us. Is it permissible to initiate the greeting of peace to them?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, we begin this session with a message received from Iraq from a listener of the program who used the initials A.A. as a code for his name. He says: “O honorable Shaykh, is it permissible to initiate the greeting of peace? I am a university student, and there are some non-Muslims studying with us. Is it permissible to initiate the greeting of peace to them? We ask for your guidance, may Allah reward you.”
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Initiating the greeting of peace to non-Muslims is forbidden and not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saidBulugh al-Maram 16:10 However, if they greet us, it is obligatory for us to return the greeting to them, due to the generality of the statement of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:86] The Jews used to greet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by saying “As-sam ‘alayk, O Muhammad”, and “as-sam” means death; they were invoking death upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If a non-Muslim greets a Muslim and says “As-sam ‘alaykum,” then we say “Wa ‘alaykum.” In the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) there is evidence that if they have said “As-salamu ‘alaykum,” then we say “Wa ‘alaykum” to them, just as they said it.
For this reason, some scholars said that if a Jew, a Christian, or any other non-Muslim says the explicit phrase “As-salamu ‘alaykum,” it is permissible for us to say “Wa ‘alaykum as-salam.”
It is also not permissible to initiate greetings such as “Ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) or the like, because that constitutes honoring them and exalting them. However, if they say such things to us, we say to them what they say, because Islam came with justice and giving every right-holder his right. It is well known that Muslims are higher in status and rank with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so it is not befitting for them to humble themselves before non-Muslims by initiating the greeting of peace to them.
Therefore, in summary of the answer, it is not permissible to initiate the greeting of peace to non-Muslims, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited that, and because this constitutes humiliating the Muslim, who initiates the exaltation of the non-Muslim. The Muslim is higher in rank with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so it is not befitting for him to humble himself in this manner.
As for if they greet us, we return the greeting to them as they greeted us. Likewise, it is not permissible for us to initiate greetings to them, such as “Ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) or “Marhaban” (welcome) or the like, because of the exaltation involved in that; it is like initiating the greeting of peace to them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Initiating the greeting of peace to non-Muslims is forbidden and not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said
Do not initiate the saluting of Jews and Christians (when you meet them), and if you meet any of them on the road, force him to go to the narrowest part of the road (i.e. do not give way for them to pass, but keep going).
لا تبدؤوا اليهود والنصارى بالسلام وإذا لقيتموهم في طريق فاضطروهم إلى أضيقهAnd 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 Jews say “As-sam ‘alaykum” (death upon you). If they greet you, say “Wa ‘alaykum” (and upon you).
إن اليهود يقولون السام عليكم فإذا سلّموا عليكم فقولوا وعليكمSay “Wa ‘alaykum” (and upon you).
قولوا وعليكمFor this reason, some scholars said that if a Jew, a Christian, or any other non-Muslim says the explicit phrase “As-salamu ‘alaykum,” it is permissible for us to say “Wa ‘alaykum as-salam.”
It is also not permissible to initiate greetings such as “Ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) or the like, because that constitutes honoring them and exalting them. However, if they say such things to us, we say to them what they say, because Islam came with justice and giving every right-holder his right. It is well known that Muslims are higher in status and rank with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so it is not befitting for them to humble themselves before non-Muslims by initiating the greeting of peace to them.
Therefore, in summary of the answer, it is not permissible to initiate the greeting of peace to non-Muslims, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited that, and because this constitutes humiliating the Muslim, who initiates the exaltation of the non-Muslim. The Muslim is higher in rank with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so it is not befitting for him to humble himself in this manner.
As for if they greet us, we return the greeting to them as they greeted us. Likewise, it is not permissible for us to initiate greetings to them, such as “Ahlan wa sahlan” (welcome) or “Marhaban” (welcome) or the like, because of the exaltation involved in that; it is like initiating the greeting of peace to them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.