What is the ruling on greeting the people praying in the mosque while they are praying?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: We prayed the congregational prayer in some mosques, and every time someone enters, he says, "Peace be upon you." All the people praying gesture like this, three times and four times like this?
The Shaykh : It is better that they do not do this. However, if someone enters intending to greet a specific person and finds him praying, he may greet him if he wishes, or he may not greet him. As for every person who enters doing this, it is not known from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that every person who entered would greet. It is an error on the part of the person, because it disturbs the people. Perhaps someone would rush and say, "And upon you be peace." Therefore, it is prohibited for a person to greet every time he enters the mosque. But if he intends a specific person in the mosque and comes and greets him while he is praying, there is no harm, and he gestures in response.
The questioner : Some of the people praying gesture like this, is that not playing around?
The Shaykh : No, it is not established in the first place. The one who greets does not deserve a response at all, not by gesturing up, down, right, or left. He does not deserve a response.
The Shaykh : It is better that they do not do this. However, if someone enters intending to greet a specific person and finds him praying, he may greet him if he wishes, or he may not greet him. As for every person who enters doing this, it is not known from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that every person who entered would greet. It is an error on the part of the person, because it disturbs the people. Perhaps someone would rush and say, "And upon you be peace." Therefore, it is prohibited for a person to greet every time he enters the mosque. But if he intends a specific person in the mosque and comes and greets him while he is praying, there is no harm, and he gestures in response.
The questioner : Some of the people praying gesture like this, is that not playing around?
The Shaykh : No, it is not established in the first place. The one who greets does not deserve a response at all, not by gesturing up, down, right, or left. He does not deserve a response.