Is it permissible for the one praying to return the greeting with a gesture, or should he leave the response?
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The questioner : Is returning the greeting during prayer a recommended practice, or is it better for the one being greeted to leave the greeting to the one praying?
The Shaykh : How are you now? You have asked two questions: whether to return the greeting or to leave the greeting.
The questioner : Which of the two is better?
The Shaykh : Leaving the greeting is for the one who is being greeted, and returning the greeting is for the one who is being greeted. So which of the two matters do you want?The questioner : For the one praying, is it better to return the greeting with a hand gesture or not?
The Shaykh : Fine.
The one praying returns the greeting with a gesture, as stated in the hadith. Then, when he concludes the prayer, if the one who greeted is still present, he returns the greeting with words. If the person has already left, the gesture is sufficient.
The Shaykh : How are you now? You have asked two questions: whether to return the greeting or to leave the greeting.
The questioner : Which of the two is better?
The Shaykh : Leaving the greeting is for the one who is being greeted, and returning the greeting is for the one who is being greeted. So which of the two matters do you want?The questioner : For the one praying, is it better to return the greeting with a hand gesture or not?
The Shaykh : Fine.
The one praying returns the greeting with a gesture, as stated in the hadith. Then, when he concludes the prayer, if the one who greeted is still present, he returns the greeting with words. If the person has already left, the gesture is sufficient.