The Ruling on Greeting When Entering the Mosque
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Question:
We now move to Sudan—specifically, to a listener from Sudan—his name is: (K.B). He has a number of questions, one of which is: What is the ruling on greeting in the mosque? That is, when a person enters the mosque, he says to those sitting there: "As-salamu alaykum," and they return the greeting to him, "May Allah reward you with good."
Answer:
The ruling on the greeting is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) and an act of devotion for one who enters upon a group of people in the mosque, or in any place. He greets them by saying: "As-salamu alaykum." If he adds: "And Allah's mercy and blessings," that is better. They return the greeting to him as he said it, or they add to it. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Nisa: 86].
So returning the greeting is obligatory, just like the greeting itself. Adding to it is recommended. If he says: "As-salamu alaykum," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam." If they add "And Allah's mercy," that is better. If they add "And His blessings," that is better.
And if he says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmat Allah." If they add "And His blessings," that is better.
If he says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh." This is the return of the greeting. Allah said: [Al-Nisa: 86]. And this is the limit of the greeting: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh."
So they must return it. If they add to it after that, such as "How are you?" or "May Allah bless you," or "How are your children?"—all of this is good. This is a good addition. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
We now move to Sudan—specifically, to a listener from Sudan—his name is: (K.B). He has a number of questions, one of which is: What is the ruling on greeting in the mosque? That is, when a person enters the mosque, he says to those sitting there: "As-salamu alaykum," and they return the greeting to him, "May Allah reward you with good."
Answer:
The ruling on the greeting is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) and an act of devotion for one who enters upon a group of people in the mosque, or in any place. He greets them by saying: "As-salamu alaykum." If he adds: "And Allah's mercy and blessings," that is better. They return the greeting to him as he said it, or they add to it. Allah the Exalted said:
And 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 returning the greeting is obligatory, just like the greeting itself. Adding to it is recommended. If he says: "As-salamu alaykum," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam." If they add "And Allah's mercy," that is better. If they add "And His blessings," that is better.
And if he says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmat Allah." If they add "And His blessings," that is better.
If he says: "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh," it is obligatory for them to say: "Wa alaykum as-salam wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh." This is the return of the greeting. Allah said:
greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]
فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاSo they must return it. If they add to it after that, such as "How are you?" or "May Allah bless you," or "How are your children?"—all of this is good. This is a good addition. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.