Did it come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he returned the greeting with a gesture while in obligatory prayer?

The questioner : Returning the greeting with a gesture in prayer: Did this come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Was he praying a voluntary prayer or in congregation, because a second question depends on this?

The Shaykh : Certainly. And if you like, I will answer your question before you ask it.

The questioner : By Allah, please go ahead. May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Did it come from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that he returned the greeting while in an obligatory prayer?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : That is the question.

The questioner : I mean in congregation, excuse me, in congregation.

The Shaykh : In an obligatory prayer.

The questioner : I mean it is the same meaning.

The Shaykh : You do not mean congregation; what matters to you is the obligatory prayer.

The questioner : The obligatory prayer, and congregation follows it.

The Shaykh : No, but congregation does not matter to you.

The questioner : Okay, fine.

The Shaykh : Because congregation might be voluntary, right?

The questioner : Like Tarawih, for example.

The Shaykh : No, no, follow me. Do you see me following you?

The questioner: No.
The student : Where are you sitting, next to Abu Abdullah... May Allah guide you.

The Shaykh : What I can answer is that I do not know regarding whether congregation matters to you; I do not know one hundred percent. As for the obligatory prayer, it is possible. Why? Because some narrations in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned the greeting with a gesture specify that it was a voluntary prayer. But in some other incidents, there is no specification either way. In that case, it is possible that it was an obligatory prayer and possible that it was voluntary. However, I cannot mention an incident where he was praying an obligatory prayer, someone greeted him, and he returned it, without this specification.

The questioner : Is it not possible that the probability of it being an obligatory prayer is weaker than it being a voluntary prayer, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : Turn to Allah.

The questioner : I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him.

The Shaykh : How is it weaker?

The questioner : I mean.

The Shaykh : How do you add?

The questioner : I mean... it is well known that he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not miss the obligatory prayer alone, but he prayed it with the Muslims.

The Shaykh : And I told you alone.

The questioner : Ah, okay, I withdraw it, our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : This is sufficient to be recorded against you.

The questioner : Ah, okay, correct, then I will be quiet.

The Shaykh : If you are quiet, who will speak?
The student : It is not your luck to be quiet.