What is the ruling on greeting the Rafidah?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : The Shaykh Muhammad?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : What is the ruling on greeting the Rafidah, or returning their greeting?
The Shaykh : The answer to this depends on the general ruling regarding the Rafidah: are they among the Muslims or among the disbelievers? Whoever considers them to be Muslims should greet them, and it is even more incumbent upon him to return their greeting. However, if he considers them to be non-Muslims and among the disbelievers, he should not initiate a greeting to them, but he should return their greeting, according to the well-known details, which is not the time to mention now. As for me personally, I am not the kind of person who declares a whole community, group, or people to be disbelievers, when we know for certain that they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I am not one of those who dare to declare takfir (declaring someone a disbeliever) in bulk, meaning collectively. Rather, takfir, if it becomes necessary to resort to it, is only with regard to each individual from whom we see what warrants takfir first, and then after the legal proof is established against him second. And such a thing, as I think you would agree with me, is not easy to achieve. The practical answer in that case is that it is permissible to greet them, let alone that it is permissible to return their greeting, with the intention of reconciling hearts, and because the proof regarding the takfir of their misguidance has not reached them, or because we do not know that it has reached them. This is what I have to say in answer; I hope you have clarified and understood it?
The questioner : Yes, what concerns me is that I wanted to ask about them because they are my colleagues at work. So, if I meet one of them and discuss with him and establish the proof against him, it is permissible...
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : The Shaykh Muhammad?
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : What is the ruling on greeting the Rafidah, or returning their greeting?
The Shaykh : The answer to this depends on the general ruling regarding the Rafidah: are they among the Muslims or among the disbelievers? Whoever considers them to be Muslims should greet them, and it is even more incumbent upon him to return their greeting. However, if he considers them to be non-Muslims and among the disbelievers, he should not initiate a greeting to them, but he should return their greeting, according to the well-known details, which is not the time to mention now. As for me personally, I am not the kind of person who declares a whole community, group, or people to be disbelievers, when we know for certain that they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I am not one of those who dare to declare takfir (declaring someone a disbeliever) in bulk, meaning collectively. Rather, takfir, if it becomes necessary to resort to it, is only with regard to each individual from whom we see what warrants takfir first, and then after the legal proof is established against him second. And such a thing, as I think you would agree with me, is not easy to achieve. The practical answer in that case is that it is permissible to greet them, let alone that it is permissible to return their greeting, with the intention of reconciling hearts, and because the proof regarding the takfir of their misguidance has not reached them, or because we do not know that it has reached them. This is what I have to say in answer; I hope you have clarified and understood it?
The questioner : Yes, what concerns me is that I wanted to ask about them because they are my colleagues at work. So, if I meet one of them and discuss with him and establish the proof against him, it is permissible...
The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.