Returning the greeting with the best.

The Shaykh : Now, among the matters that must be observed in the greeting is that you return it in kind, both in quantity and in quality. That is, in the amount and in the manner. So if a Muslim says, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah," what is the answer? "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah." If he says, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," the answer is, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." If he says, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and His forgiveness and His pleasure and His good things," you limit yourself to saying, "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," because this is what the Sunnah brought. This is with regard to quantity, meaning you give him from the phrases what he gave you. And with regard to quality, how? With regard to quality, some people greet with clear, explicit words, raising their voices. The one who returns the greeting responds with his nose. What does "with his nose" mean? It means he speaks with his nose, in words that perhaps cannot be heard. Does this return suffice or not? Answer, everyone? The Muslim said, "Peace be upon you," and this one said, "Peace be upon you." Does this suffice or not? It does not suffice, because this is less in quality than the greeting. And Allah says: . For this reason, you find that the one who greeted has something in his heart and takes offense at this, saying, "Why, my brother? I greeted you with a clear, eloquent tongue, and you greeted me with the lowest of your nose." This is also a matter to which one must be alert.