The ruling on one who does not return the greeting to the one who greets him
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Question:
His fourth question says: What is the ruling on one who is greeted but does not return the greeting?
Answer:
It is the Sunnah for Muslims, when they meet, to greet one another.Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1932Sahih (Darussalam) This is the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that a Muslim has rights over his brother, among which are: to initiate the greeting with him, and to return the greeting. And he said regarding those who avoid each other: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1932Sahih (Darussalam) And he said, (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 5193Sahih (Al-Albani).
And he said, (peace and blessings be upon him), when he came to Madinah:Sunan Ibn Majah 3251Sahih (Darussalam) So spreading the greeting, caring for the greeting, and initiating it, are among the great Sunnahs. Returning the greeting is obligatory. If one is greeted, it is obligatory for him to return it; because Allah, the Exalted, says: [Al-Nisa: 86]. So returning the greeting is obligatory, and adding more with what is better is better.
So if he says: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), he says: "Wa alaykum as-salam" (And upon you peace). This is obligatory. If he adds to it and says: "Wa rahmatullah" (And the mercy of Allah), it is better. If he adds and says: "Wa barakatuh" (And His blessings), it is better. If the one who greets says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), it is obligatory for the one who is greeted to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah" (And upon you peace and the mercy of Allah). If he adds "wa barakatuh" (and His blessings), it is better. If the one who greets says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings), it is obligatory for the one who is greeted to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" (And upon you peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings). If he adds to that and says: "How are you? How did you wake up? How did you spend the evening? How are your children?" then that is better. Yes.
His fourth question says: What is the ruling on one who is greeted but does not return the greeting?
Answer:
It is the Sunnah for Muslims, when they meet, to greet one another.
The best of them is the one who initiates the Salam.
وخيرهما الذي يبدأ بالسلامThe best of them is the one who initiates the Salam.
خيرهما الذي يبدأ بالسلامBy him in whose hand my soul is, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another: should I not guide you to something doing which you will love one another: spread out salutation among you.
والذي نفسي بيده لا تدخلوا الجنة حتى تؤمنوا، ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا، أفلا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم؛ أفشوا السلام بينكمAnd he said, (peace and blessings be upon him), when he came to Madinah:
O people! Spread (the greeting of) Salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam.
أيها الناس، أطعموا الطعام، وأفشوا السلام، وصلوا الأرحام، وصلوا بالليل والناس نيام؛ تدخلوا الجنة بسلامAnd when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاSo if he says: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you), he says: "Wa alaykum as-salam" (And upon you peace). This is obligatory. If he adds to it and says: "Wa rahmatullah" (And the mercy of Allah), it is better. If he adds and says: "Wa barakatuh" (And His blessings), it is better. If the one who greets says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah), it is obligatory for the one who is greeted to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah" (And upon you peace and the mercy of Allah). If he adds "wa barakatuh" (and His blessings), it is better. If the one who greets says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings), it is obligatory for the one who is greeted to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh" (And upon you peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings). If he adds to that and says: "How are you? How did you wake up? How did you spend the evening? How are your children?" then that is better. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.