He says: I heard from one of the radio stations, and it was saying regarding the etiquettes of greeting, that it is obligatory for every Muslim to observe the greeting. So if he enters upon a group and they are Muslims,
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The questioner : He says: I heard from one of the radio stations, and it was saying regarding the etiquettes of greeting, that it is obligatory for every Muslim to observe the greeting. So if he enters upon a group and they are Muslims, he says, "Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings." But if that group is not of the Muslims, he says only, "Peace be upon you." And I have heard from your program that it is not obligatory to greet the disbeliever. So what is the opinion and the correct answer?
The Shaykh : The correct answer is that the greeting is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah). If a person passes by a Muslim or comes to him, he greets him. The recommended practice is that the few greet the many, the young greet the old, the one walking greets the one sitting, and the one riding greets the one walking. But if that is not possible, and the few do not greet the many, then the many should greet, and the recommended practice is not to be left because some did not perform it. As for greeting non-Muslims, it is not permissible to initiate the greeting to them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 2167a
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if a non-Muslim greets him, he returns the greeting and says, "And upon you." Yes.
The Shaykh : The correct answer is that the greeting is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah). If a person passes by a Muslim or comes to him, he greets him. The recommended practice is that the few greet the many, the young greet the old, the one walking greets the one sitting, and the one riding greets the one walking. But if that is not possible, and the few do not greet the many, then the many should greet, and the recommended practice is not to be left because some did not perform it. As for greeting non-Muslims, it is not permissible to initiate the greeting to them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you
لا تبدءوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلامThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if a non-Muslim greets him, he returns the greeting and says, "And upon you." Yes.