From the etiquettes of greeting.
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The questioner : Regarding offering the greeting after the prayer, after a person finishes the post-prayer dhikr. That is, if a person enters the mosque, he greets, even if the people are in prayer. And if he finishes his tasbih after the prayer and wants to go to perform the voluntary prayer in his home, is it prescribed for everyone who leaves the mosque to offer the greeting to those who are in the mosque... in the gathering, I mean?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the issue differs from person to person, and the basis of the ruling is the following: Yes, it is prescribed if the meaning of meeting is realized. If I and you prayed side by side, and then after the prayer I said to you, "As-salamu alaykum," that is like saying, "May Allah accept [your prayer]," so it is not prescribed. But if one of the worshippers meets the other, and the word "meeting" is true of them, then the greeting is prescribed. Because the Messenger, as you know, said: So, if this meeting is realized, the greeting is prescribed; otherwise, it is not. The first example clarifies this reality for you.
The questioner : As for the entire mosque, it is not prescribed, for example.
The Shaykh : No, upon meeting, if he comes to you, you greet him. And this is supported by the authentic hadith. Is it correct that it is both a command and an action that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the Muslims, when they were walking on the road and a stone or a tree separated them, and then they met, that they should greet one another? He commanded that, and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do it. When a stone, meaning a rock, or a tree separated them while they were walking on the road, and then they met afterwards, some of them would say to others, "As-salamu alaykum," even though the time since they last saw each other was short. So the matter is the same in prayer: if the meaning of meeting is observed, then if he meets him, he greets him. But if he was meeting him, and they entered together and prayed together, and then left together, then here there is no meeting, and consequently there is no greeting.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the issue differs from person to person, and the basis of the ruling is the following: Yes, it is prescribed if the meaning of meeting is realized. If I and you prayed side by side, and then after the prayer I said to you, "As-salamu alaykum," that is like saying, "May Allah accept [your prayer]," so it is not prescribed. But if one of the worshippers meets the other, and the word "meeting" is true of them, then the greeting is prescribed. Because the Messenger, as you know, said:
The Muslim has five rights over the Muslim: if you meet him, greet him with the salutation
للمسلم على المسلم خمس إذا لقيته فسلم عليهThe questioner : As for the entire mosque, it is not prescribed, for example.
The Shaykh : No, upon meeting, if he comes to you, you greet him. And this is supported by the authentic hadith. Is it correct that it is both a command and an action that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the Muslims, when they were walking on the road and a stone or a tree separated them, and then they met, that they should greet one another? He commanded that, and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do it. When a stone, meaning a rock, or a tree separated them while they were walking on the road, and then they met afterwards, some of them would say to others, "As-salamu alaykum," even though the time since they last saw each other was short. So the matter is the same in prayer: if the meaning of meeting is observed, then if he meets him, he greets him. But if he was meeting him, and they entered together and prayed together, and then left together, then here there is no meeting, and consequently there is no greeting.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.