What is the factor that removes the obligation of initiating the greeting?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is it that took the greeting away from being obligatory...?
The Shaykh : It is what I mentioned to you regarding the hadith of boycotting.
The questioner : Is returning the greeting obligatory?
The Shaykh : Returning the greeting is obligatory, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:86]
The questioner : Returning with less than that, such as saying "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy" and replying only with "Peace be upon you," is less.
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the verse is that he commits a sin, because he did not return it, nor did he return with something better.
The questioner : ...Is returning the greeting obligatory, and initiating the greeting a recommended practice?
The Shaykh : In terms of ruling, one is obligatory and the other is a recommended practice that is more excellent. However, in terms of the fact that this obligation is built upon that recommended practice, the recommended practice becomes more excellent because it is the cause of the obligation. Thus, two matters converge in it: that it is a recommended practice, and that it is the cause of the obligation.
The Shaykh : It is what I mentioned to you regarding the hadith of boycotting.
The questioner : Is returning the greeting obligatory?
The Shaykh : Returning the greeting is obligatory, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وإذا حييتم بتحية فحيوا بأحسن منها أو ردوهاThe questioner : Returning with less than that, such as saying "Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy" and replying only with "Peace be upon you," is less.
The Shaykh : The apparent meaning of the verse is that he commits a sin, because he did not return it, nor did he return with something better.
The questioner : ...Is returning the greeting obligatory, and initiating the greeting a recommended practice?
The Shaykh : In terms of ruling, one is obligatory and the other is a recommended practice that is more excellent. However, in terms of the fact that this obligation is built upon that recommended practice, the recommended practice becomes more excellent because it is the cause of the obligation. Thus, two matters converge in it: that it is a recommended practice, and that it is the cause of the obligation.