What is your opinion of the one who greets in a low voice, or from whom one hears nothing but a whine, and the one who replies says: "Peace," with a lack of cheerfulness on both sides?
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The questioner : What is your opinion of the one who does not greet except in a low voice, or from whom one hears nothing but a whine, and the one who replies says: "Peace," with a lack of cheerfulness on both sides? We ask for your guidance on this?
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Spreading the greeting means making it apparent and raising one's voice. There is no doubt that the one who greets in a way that one hears nothing from him but a whine has not spread it in the manner that the greeting should be. Rather, what should be done is to greet with an apparent greeting that your companion hears, feels at ease with, and finds reassurance in, with an open chest and a pleasant face, and to reply to you with what you replied to him or better, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:86].
And on this occasion, I would like to point out something else that some of those who reply to the greeting do. You find a man greeting his brother with a clear, distinct greeting, filling his mouth, and the second one replies with his nose, and one hears nothing from him but a whine. We say: This person has not replied to the obligatory greeting, because Allah said:[An-Nisa 4:86] It is known that if someone greets you with clear, eloquent, and distinct words, and then you reply to him with this response, you have not replied to his greeting and have not replied to him with something better, so you would be a sinner. Similarly, some people, when greeted, reply "Welcome" or "Welcome and welcome." This reply is not sufficient, and one is not absolved of responsibility by it, and it is not like what the one who greeted you said or better than it. He greeted you with "Peace be upon you," which is a supplication for your safety, and you replied with "Welcome." This does not serve as a supplication, and you have not replied to his supplication. The most that is in it is that it indicates that you were pleased with him. Therefore, it is obligatory for the one whose brother greeted him and said: "Peace be upon you," to reply and say: "And upon you peace." Then, if he wishes, he may follow it with "Welcome" and "Welcome" and "How are you?" and "How is your condition?" and the like.
The questioner : Yes, good.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
By Allah, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the greeting among yourselves.
والله لا تدخلوا الجنّة حتى تؤمنوا، ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا، أفلا أخبركم بشيء إذا فعملتموه تحاببتم؟ أفشوا السلام بينكمAnd 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 on this occasion, I would like to point out something else that some of those who reply to the greeting do. You find a man greeting his brother with a clear, distinct greeting, filling his mouth, and the second one replies with his nose, and one hears nothing from him but a whine. We say: This person has not replied to the obligatory greeting, because Allah said:
greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]
فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاThe questioner : Yes, good.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.