Is it permissible for a Muslim to return the greeting of one who abandons prayer and the People of the Book?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a Muslim to return the greeting to one who abandons prayer and the People of the Book?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a Muslim, if one of the People of the Book or others greets him, to return their greeting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that. Indeed, Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:86] and He did not say: "And if the Muslims greet you," but it is general [An-Nisa 4:86]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sahih Muslim 2163a. Accordingly, if a disbeliever greets us, we return to him with what he greeted us with. If he says: "Peace be upon you" with the explicit wording of the greeting, we say: "Peace be upon you." If he says: "Welcome," we say: "Welcome." If he says: "May Allah bless your morning with good," we say: "May Allah bless your morning with good." And so we greet him with what he greeted us with, in obedience to the command of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, a person should strive to call disbelievers to the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) as much as he is able to do so. How many a person was a disbeliever or an atheist, and Allah granted him guidance through a person who returned his greeting, meaning he responded to him with a return greeting, and opened his heart to him and expanded his chest for him, until Allah (Mighty and Majestic) guided him and he believed. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. She has a final paragraph asking, O honorable Shaykh, about.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for a Muslim, if one of the People of the Book or others greets him, to return their greeting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that. Indeed, Allah the Exalted 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 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 رُدُّوهَاWhen the People of the Book offer you salutations, you should say: The same to you.
إذا سلّم عليكم أهل الكتاب، فقولوا: وعليكمThe questioner : May Allah bless you. She has a final paragraph asking, O honorable Shaykh, about.