What is the ruling on returning the greeting to one who does not profess the religion of Islam?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : May your eminence, I have come to you as a visitor for the sake of Allah.
The Shaykh : May Allah give you life, may Allah give you life.
The questioner : I have a question regarding the nature of my work, as I have Christians with me at work, some of whom are Arabs and some are foreigners. They initiate the greeting to me, and sometimes I greet them back, and sometimes I turn away from them. Is there a sin in this? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, if a man greets you, whether he is a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist, or an atheist who does not acknowledge a religion, you should return the greeting to him, because Allah said:[An-Nisa 4:86].
And consider His saying:[An-Nisa 4:86], and He did not say: "If the Muslims greet you" , meaning: if one person greets you with a greeting [An-Nisa 4:86]. You do not initiate the greeting, but if he greets you, you must return it; you are obligated to return it.
Then, if he explicitly says "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), say "Alaykum as-salam" (And upon you peace). But if he does not say it explicitly and you fear he is saying "As-samu alaykum" (Death be upon you), as the Jews used to do with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madinah, then say "Wa alaykum" (And upon you), and that is sufficient.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you, and peace be the conclusion. This session ends here for this week, and we ask Allah the Exalted to make it a blessed session and to bring us and you back to similar sessions in goodness.
Let this be the last question in the session and in the individual session as well. For anyone who has a question, I will, if Allah wills, pray the midday prayer in the mosque, and we will receive their questions, if Allah wills, on the way. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : May your eminence, I have come to you as a visitor for the sake of Allah.
The Shaykh : May Allah give you life, may Allah give you life.
The questioner : I have a question regarding the nature of my work, as I have Christians with me at work, some of whom are Arabs and some are foreigners. They initiate the greeting to me, and sometimes I greet them back, and sometimes I turn away from them. Is there a sin in this? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, if a man greets you, whether he is a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist, or an atheist who does not acknowledge a religion, you should return the greeting to him, because Allah said:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاAnd consider His saying:
And when you are greeted with a greeting
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍAnd when you are greeted
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْgreet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]
فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاThen, if he explicitly says "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), say "Alaykum as-salam" (And upon you peace). But if he does not say it explicitly and you fear he is saying "As-samu alaykum" (Death be upon you), as the Jews used to do with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madinah, then say "Wa alaykum" (And upon you), and that is sufficient.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you, and peace be the conclusion. This session ends here for this week, and we ask Allah the Exalted to make it a blessed session and to bring us and you back to similar sessions in goodness.
Let this be the last question in the session and in the individual session as well. For anyone who has a question, I will, if Allah wills, pray the midday prayer in the mosque, and we will receive their questions, if Allah wills, on the way. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.