The Sixth Topic: The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it."

The Shaykh : Now, the sixth topic. Allah the Exalted said: So Allah commanded us to greet with something better than it, or at the very least, to return it. Let us give examples now. A man meets you and greets you, saying: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you). The Muslim replies: "Alaykum as-salam" (Upon you be peace), meaning he speaks with his nose, not his tongue. Did he return it or not? Yes, did he return it? The first one said: "As-salamu alaykum" with clear, audible speech, and the second one returned it with his nose. Yes, meaning he barely makes it heard. Did he return it like the greeting or less than it? Less than it, without a doubt. This falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted: regarding both the quantity and the quality. Therefore, beware: if a person greets you with a clear, audible voice, do not return it to him with something less than that. Even if you return the same words, but with a delivery that is less than his, you have made a mistake, for you have not returned the greeting with its like or with something better than it.