If a man greets me while I am reciting the Qur'an, should I stop the recitation and return the greeting? And what are the rulings related to the greeting?
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The questioner : If a man greets me while I am reciting the Qur'an, should I stop the recitation and return the greeting? And what are the rulings related to the greeting? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : Yes. If someone greets you while you are reciting the Qur'an, you have the choice. If you wish, return the greeting, and that is undoubtedly the best and the furthest from causing offense. If you wish, do not return it, especially if returning it would interrupt your recitation, as when a person is reciting from memory. Some people, when they return the greeting to the one who greeted them while reciting from memory, lose their place in the recitation.
In summary: It is best to return the greeting to him, but if you wish, you may return it with words, and if you wish, you may return it with a gesture. However, returning it with words is undoubtedly more preferable.
There are many rulings related to the greeting. First, it should be known that the greeting is a confirmed sunnah (recommended practice). It is not permissible for anyone to boycott his brother for more than three days, where they meet and this one turns away and that one turns away. The best of them is the one who initiates the greeting.
Second: The greeting is a supplication for the one being greeted, because saying "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) means that you are praying for his safety.
Third: The Shari'ah greeting is "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) or "Salamun alaykum" (Peace be upon you), and not as some ignorant people do: "May Allah keep you alive," "Welcome," "At your service," "Welcome, Abu So-and-so." This is not a greeting; this is a salutation, not a greeting.
Among the rulings of the greeting is that it is obligatory for the one being greeted to return it, based on the saying of the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:86] So he returns it and says, "And upon you be peace." His return should be like the greeting of the one who greeted him in terms of the general form, the volume of voice, and the cheerfulness. If the one who greeted said, "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), it is obligatory for you to say, "Alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah" (And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah). If he greets you with a clear voice, return to him with a clear voice. Do not return to him with a snort, as some arrogant people do. You say, "As-salamu alaykum" with a clear, explicit phrase, and then he returns to you with a snort, and you do not know if he is returning it or not. This is from arrogance. The one who returns in this manner, while his companion has performed an explicit greeting, is sinful because he did not fulfill the obligation of returning it.
Among the rulings of the greeting: The few greet the many, the young greet the old, and the walking greet the sitting. This is the best, in order to accord every person his due status. If the few do not greet the many, or the young do not greet the old, or the walking do not greet the sitting, then the other party should greet, and the sunnah (recommended practice) should not be left between them. For example, if a person of lower status than you meets you and does not greet, then greet him. In fact, you should initiate the greeting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he used to greet the children when he passed by them, peace and blessings be upon him.
Among the rulings of the greeting: It is recommended that when knocking on a person's door, one should say, "As-salamu alaykum, may I enter?" if the door is closed. If it is not closed, he says, "As-salamu alaykum," and there is no need to say, "May I enter?" because if he has invited you and you came and the door is open, this implies permission to enter.
Among the rulings of the greeting: Do not greet while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is despite the fact that you are commanding him to do what is right, and commanding what is right is obligatory. So do not greet anyone while the imam is delivering the sermon. However, between the sermon and the prayer, or between the sermon and the adhan (call to prayer), there is no harm.
Among the rulings of the greeting: It should not lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). So a man does not greet a woman, and a woman does not greet a man, except if the woman is one of his mahram (a relative one may not marry) or one of his acquaintances, such as the neighbor's wife or the uncle's wife, and the like. In that case, he may greet without seclusion. This happens often: a man enters his house and finds the neighbor's wife or the wife of one of his relatives, and he greets her, and there is no harm in that.
As for meeting a woman in the market and greeting her, or her greeting you, that is not allowed, because this leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a Sudanese questioner, Adam Abdullah, who says.
The Shaykh : Yes. If someone greets you while you are reciting the Qur'an, you have the choice. If you wish, return the greeting, and that is undoubtedly the best and the furthest from causing offense. If you wish, do not return it, especially if returning it would interrupt your recitation, as when a person is reciting from memory. Some people, when they return the greeting to the one who greeted them while reciting from memory, lose their place in the recitation.
In summary: It is best to return the greeting to him, but if you wish, you may return it with words, and if you wish, you may return it with a gesture. However, returning it with words is undoubtedly more preferable.
There are many rulings related to the greeting. First, it should be known that the greeting is a confirmed sunnah (recommended practice). It is not permissible for anyone to boycott his brother for more than three days, where they meet and this one turns away and that one turns away. The best of them is the one who initiates the greeting.
Second: The greeting is a supplication for the one being greeted, because saying "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) means that you are praying for his safety.
Third: The Shari'ah greeting is "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) or "Salamun alaykum" (Peace be upon you), and not as some ignorant people do: "May Allah keep you alive," "Welcome," "At your service," "Welcome, Abu So-and-so." This is not a greeting; this is a salutation, not a greeting.
Among the rulings of the greeting is that it is obligatory for the one being greeted to return it, based on the saying of the Exalted:
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 رُدُّوهَاAmong the rulings of the greeting: The few greet the many, the young greet the old, and the walking greet the sitting. This is the best, in order to accord every person his due status. If the few do not greet the many, or the young do not greet the old, or the walking do not greet the sitting, then the other party should greet, and the sunnah (recommended practice) should not be left between them. For example, if a person of lower status than you meets you and does not greet, then greet him. In fact, you should initiate the greeting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The best of them is the one who initiates the greeting.
خيرهما الذي يبدؤ بالسلامAmong the rulings of the greeting: It is recommended that when knocking on a person's door, one should say, "As-salamu alaykum, may I enter?" if the door is closed. If it is not closed, he says, "As-salamu alaykum," and there is no need to say, "May I enter?" because if he has invited you and you came and the door is open, this implies permission to enter.
Among the rulings of the greeting: Do not greet while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If you say to your companion on Friday, "Be quiet," you have spoken in vain, and whoever speaks in vain has no Friday prayer.
إذا قلت لصاحبك: أنصت يوم الجمعة فقد لغوت، ومن لغى فلا جمعة لهAmong the rulings of the greeting: It should not lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). So a man does not greet a woman, and a woman does not greet a man, except if the woman is one of his mahram (a relative one may not marry) or one of his acquaintances, such as the neighbor's wife or the uncle's wife, and the like. In that case, he may greet without seclusion. This happens often: a man enters his house and finds the neighbor's wife or the wife of one of his relatives, and he greets her, and there is no harm in that.
As for meeting a woman in the market and greeting her, or her greeting you, that is not allowed, because this leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a Sudanese questioner, Adam Abdullah, who says.