Is it permissible to smile at the Rafidah when returning a greeting?
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The questioner : As for the Rafidah, you say, O Shaykh: treat them as they treat you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If, for example, they say: "As-salamu alaykum," do we return the greeting to them? Do we smile in their faces?
The Shaykh : If he says: "As-salamu alaykum" and smiles in your face, say: "Wa alaykum as-salam" and smile in his face.
The questioner : Okay, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Because Allah says in the Qur'an:[An-Nisa 4:86] And He did not say: "If so-and-so or so-and-so greets you, greet them." Rather, whoever greets us with a greeting, we greet him with the same or better. So, for example, if a Jew or a Christian greets you and says: "As-salamu alayk, O so-and-so," what do you say? Say: "Wa alaykum as-salam, O so-and-so," exactly as he said. This is the minimum obligatory. And Islam, as you know, is the religion of justice, giving every person what he deserves without injustice. However, if a Jew who knows Arabic greets you and elides the lam, so you do not know if he said: "As-sam alayk" or "As-salam alayk," what do you say to him? Say: "Wa alaykum," but do not say: "Wa alaykum as-sam," on the possibility that he said: "As-salam." And do not say: "As-salam," on the possibility that he said: "As-sam." Say: "Wa alaykum." If he said: "As-salam," then it is "Wa alaykum as-salam." And if he said: "As-sam," then it is "Wa alaykum as-sam." Did you understand? Did you understand or not? Good.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and place that in your scale of good deeds.
The Shaykh : Amen, and whoever heard and whoever said.
The questioner : Amen, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If, for example, they say: "As-salamu alaykum," do we return the greeting to them? Do we smile in their faces?
The Shaykh : If he says: "As-salamu alaykum" and smiles in your face, say: "Wa alaykum as-salam" and smile in his face.
The questioner : Okay, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Because Allah says in the Qur'an:
when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
إِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and place that in your scale of good deeds.
The Shaykh : Amen, and whoever heard and whoever said.
The questioner : Amen, O Shaykh.