Some people say "Allah bil-khayr" when they greet, and the other replies "B-murhaba." What is the ruling on saying "Allah bil-khayr" in the greeting?
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The questioner : He says: "Honorable Shaykh, we sometimes hear some people saying 'Allah bil-khayr' when they greet, and the other replies 'B-murhaba.' Is saying 'Allah bil-khayr' forbidden or permissible? And I believe that saying 'Allah bil-khayr' is an abbreviation of 'May Allah give you a good morning' (subhaka Allah bil-khayr)?"
The Shaykh : Yes, this belief expressed by the questioner is the apparent one. When a person says "Allah bil-khayr," he does not mean that there is good in Allah, absolutely not. But "Allah bil-khayr" means "May Allah give you a good morning." However, we say to the one who said "Allah bil-khayr" and omitted the verbal sentence: "My brother, what harm is there in saying 'May Allah give you a good morning'? Is it tiring? It is not tiring. If he says 'May Allah give you a good morning,' and this one says 'And to you the same,' but if he says 'May Allah give you a good morning,' and the second one says 'Welcome and welcome,' is that sufficient? No, because 'May Allah give you a good morning' is a supplication, and 'Welcome and welcome' is merely a welcome. Nevertheless, we say to the first one: Your saying 'May Allah give you a good morning' did not follow the Sunnah. Say 'Peace be upon you' and 'May Allah give you a good morning' if you wish. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, this belief expressed by the questioner is the apparent one. When a person says "Allah bil-khayr," he does not mean that there is good in Allah, absolutely not. But "Allah bil-khayr" means "May Allah give you a good morning." However, we say to the one who said "Allah bil-khayr" and omitted the verbal sentence: "My brother, what harm is there in saying 'May Allah give you a good morning'? Is it tiring? It is not tiring. If he says 'May Allah give you a good morning,' and this one says 'And to you the same,' but if he says 'May Allah give you a good morning,' and the second one says 'Welcome and welcome,' is that sufficient? No, because 'May Allah give you a good morning' is a supplication, and 'Welcome and welcome' is merely a welcome. Nevertheless, we say to the first one: Your saying 'May Allah give you a good morning' did not follow the Sunnah. Say 'Peace be upon you' and 'May Allah give you a good morning' if you wish. Yes.