Does a Muslim greet a disbeliever? And does a Muslim return the greeting if a disbeliever greets him, or not?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you. If a Muslim meets a disbeliever, does he have to greet him?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If a Muslim meets a disbeliever
The Shaykh : If he meets him.
The questioner : Yes, a disbeliever. Is it permissible to greet him? And if a disbeliever greets him, does he return the greeting?
The Shaykh : He says: If a Muslim and a disbeliever meet, does the Muslim greet the disbeliever?
And the answer is: No, he does not greet him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1602Sahih (Darussalam).
And he saysThe questioner : And if a disbeliever greets a Muslim, is it obligatory for him to return the greeting?
And the answer is: Yes, it is obligatory for him to return the greeting. But if he does not know whether the Muslim said "As-sam 'alaykum" (meaning: death) or "As-salam 'alaykum" (peace be upon you), then he says "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
As for if the disbeliever who is greeting says "As-salam 'alaykum" with a clear and distinct phrase, there is no harm in saying "Wa 'alaykum as-salam" (and upon you peace), but he should not add anything. For example, if the disbeliever greets and says "As-salam 'alaykum," and you say "Wa 'alaykum as-salam," or you say "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you), do not add by saying "Welcome" or "Glad to see you," because this makes him proud of himself.
As for shaking hands, if he extends his hand to you, then extend your hand to him; otherwise, do not initiate shaking hands with them.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : If a Muslim meets a disbeliever
The Shaykh : If he meets him.
The questioner : Yes, a disbeliever. Is it permissible to greet him? And if a disbeliever greets him, does he return the greeting?
The Shaykh : He says: If a Muslim and a disbeliever meet, does the Muslim greet the disbeliever?
And the answer is: No, he does not greet him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not precede the Jews and the Christians with the Salam
لا تبدءوا اليهود والنصارى بالسلامAnd he saysThe questioner : And if a disbeliever greets a Muslim, is it obligatory for him to return the greeting?
And the answer is: Yes, it is obligatory for him to return the greeting. But if he does not know whether the Muslim said "As-sam 'alaykum" (meaning: death) or "As-salam 'alaykum" (peace be upon you), then he says "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The People of the Book greet by saying "As-sam 'alaykum" (death be upon you), so say "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you).
إن أهل الكتاب يسلمون يقولون: السام عليكم، فقولوا: وعليكمAs for if the disbeliever who is greeting says "As-salam 'alaykum" with a clear and distinct phrase, there is no harm in saying "Wa 'alaykum as-salam" (and upon you peace), but he should not add anything. For example, if the disbeliever greets and says "As-salam 'alaykum," and you say "Wa 'alaykum as-salam," or you say "Wa 'alaykum" (and upon you), do not add by saying "Welcome" or "Glad to see you," because this makes him proud of himself.
As for shaking hands, if he extends his hand to you, then extend your hand to him; otherwise, do not initiate shaking hands with them.