Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) return the greeting with a gesture in voluntary prayer, or was it in congregation?

The questioner : May Allah increase you in favor, our Shaykh. Regarding returning the greeting in prayer with a gesture, is there a report of this from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was praying a voluntary prayer, or in congregation? Because a question depends on this now.

The Shaykh : Certainly, and if you would like me to answer your question.

The questioner : By Allah, please go ahead. May Allah bless you, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Is there a report from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that he returned the greeting while in an obligatory prayer?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : That is the question.

The questioner : In congregation.

The Shaykh : No, it is in an obligatory prayer.

The questioner : Yes, it is the same meaning.

The Shaykh : You do not mean congregation; you mean the obligatory prayer.

The questioner : The obligatory prayer, and I think congregation follows from it.

The Shaykh : No, but you do not mean congregation.

The questioner : Okay, fine.

The Shaykh : Because it could be a voluntary prayer in congregation, right?

The questioner : I mean, for example, Tarawih.

The Shaykh : No, do not follow me. Do you see me following you?

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : The audience : They laugh.

The Shaykh : What I can answer is that I do not know regarding whether it is in congregation. I do not know the extent. But in an obligatory prayer, it is possible. Why? Because some narrations in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned the greeting with a gesture specify that it was a voluntary prayer. But in some other incidents, there is no specification, neither this nor that. In that case, it is possible that it was an obligatory prayer and it is possible that it was a voluntary prayer. But I cannot mention that there was an incident where he was praying an obligatory prayer, someone greeted him, and he returned it, without this specification being present.

The questioner : Is it not possible that the probability of it being in an obligatory prayer is weaker than in a voluntary prayer, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : Turn to Allah.

The questioner : I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him.

The Shaykh : How is it weaker?

The questioner : I mean, I want to say that it is well known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not miss the congregational prayer of the obligatory prayer alone, but he prayed it with the Muslims.

The Shaykh : And I told you, alone.

The questioner : Okay, I withdraw it, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : What was recorded against him is sufficient.

The questioner : Okay, correct, then I will be silent.

The Shaykh : If you are silent, who will speak?