Iumsonline.net – July 7th, 2008
Is it possible for a non-Muslim
to use the greeting of Islam: “As-Salamu `Alaykum wa
Rahmatu-llahi wa Barakatuh (Peace and Allah’s mercy and
blessings be upon you)”? At the same time, is it permissible
for a Muslim to use the same salutation to greet or answer
the greeting of a non-Muslim? I know people who believe that
this is permissible, and others who believe otherwise.
Answer provided by Sheikh
Faysal Mawlawi:
All praise is due to Allah and
peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his household,
Companions, and whoever follows his way.
1. It is possible for a non-Muslim
to use the greeting “As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatu-llahi wa
Barakatuh,” but he would not receive a reward for it as a
Muslim would. This is because this greeting is part of the
Prophet’s Sunnah in which non-Muslims do not believe.
2. It is permissible for a Muslim
to greet a non-Muslim using the word “salam” (peace). This
view has been attributed to Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn
Muhayriz, `Umar Ibn `Abd Al-`Aziz, Sufyan Ibn `Uyaynah,
Ash-Shu`abi, Al-Awza`i, and At-Tabari. Moreover, this
opinion was chosen by Rashid Rida in his “Tafsir Al-Manar”
and Ash-Shanqiti in his “Adwa’ Al-Bayan”.
- We also support this view, on
the basis of the following Qur’anic verses which adopt and
recommend “salam (peace)” without restriction:
* “O ye who believe! Enter not
houses other than your own without first announcing your
presence and invoking peace upon the folk thereof…”
(An-Nur 24: 27)
* “And when they hear vanity
they withdraw from it and say: Unto us our works and unto
you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire not the
ignorant.” (Al-Qasas 28: 55)
* “… and when the foolish ones
address them, they answer: Peace.” (Al-Furqan 25: 63
* “And he saith: O my Lord! Lo!
those are a folk who believe not. Then bear with them (O
Muhammad) and say: Peace. But they will come to know.”
(Az-Zukhruf 43: 88-89)
* “He said: Peace be unto you!
I shall ask forgiveness of my Lord for you. Lo! He was ever
gracious unto me.” (Maryam 19: 47)
Furthermore, there are a number of
authentic hadiths that also recommend peace without
restriction; that is to say: they recommend it toward all
people. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
* “… and greet those whom you
know and those whom you do not know.” (Narrated by
Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
* “… When Allah created Adam,
He said (to him), ‘Go and greet that group of angels sitting
there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for
that will be your greeting and the greeting of your
offspring.’ Adam (went and) said, ‘As-Salamu `Alaykum (Peace
be upon you).’ They replied, ‘As-Salamu `Alayka wa
Rahmatu-llah (Peace and Allah’s mercy be on you).’…”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
* “Spread peace…” (Narrated
by At-Tirmidhi, who said it is hasan sahih (agreeable
and authentic), and by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih)
- There is another authentic
hadith on which the majority of scholars depend in
supporting the view that it is legally detestable (makruh)
– or even prohibited (haram) – for a Muslim to greet
a non-Muslim with “salam”. In this hadith the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not initiate
(greeting) Jews and Christians with salam.” (Narrated by
Muslim) This hadith was connected to an existing state of
war at the time. This can be supported by other versions of
the hadith, which are also authentic, such as the version
according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) said, “We are going early (in the morning) to
(fight) Jews, so do not start (greeting) them with salam.”
(Narrated by Ahmad and At-Tabarani with a trustworthy chain
of transmitters) That was on the occasion when the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) invaded Banu Qurayzah (who
were Jews). According to another version narrated by Ahmad,
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily,
I shall leave tomorrow to (fight) Jews, so do not start
(greeting) them with salam.” This version is authentic, as
mentioned in “Al-Fath Ar-Rabbani”. Moreover, in “Fath
Al-Bari,” Al-`Asqalani quoted a narration of Al-Bukhari
– recorded in Al-Bukhari’s “Al-Adab Al-Mufrad” – and
which was also narrated by An-Nasa’i; it reads that the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily,
I shall leave tomorrow to (fight) the Jews, so do not start
(greeting) them with salam.” (The difference between the two
versions is “the” before “Jews” in the second one.)
This opinion - which is adopted by
a large number of scholars and which says that it is
permissible to greet a non-Muslim using the word “salam” (or
its translation) – is confirmed for those who live outside
Islamic lands but in countries which are in a state of peace
(with Muslims). It can be regarded as a form of covenant
with the people with whom a Muslim lives whether he is a
citizen or only a resident. This is because he – in this
case – is supposed to practice Da`wah with them (as every
Muslim should do), and initiating a greeting is one of the
morals of preachers.
3. If, however, a non-Muslim
greets a Muslim with the word “salam” [or its translation],
it becomes necessary to answer him, because Almighty Allah
says, “When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with
a better than it or return it…” (An-Nisa’ 4: 86) It is
“recommended” (in this verse) to answer the greeting with a
“better” one, yet it is “obligatory” to “return” it.
Returning a greeting requires an equal greeting, as
maintained by Ibn Al-Qayyim in “Ahkam Ahl Adh-Dhimmah”.
You may read more about this
subject in the books of Tafsir (exegesis of the
Qur’an) where you can find elaborated explanations and
commentaries on the verses mentioned above, especially
Al-Qurtubi’s “Tafsir” and Rashid Rida’s “Al-Manar”.
You may also refer to books containing commentaries on
hadiths, especially: “Fath Al-Bari,” which explains
Sahih Al-Bukhari, An-Nawawi’s Commentaries on Sahih Muslim,
“Al-Fath Ar-Rabbani” which explains Imam Ahmad’s
Musnad, and Ibn Al-Qayyim’s “Ahkam Ahl Adh-Dhimmah”.
May Allah bless you, and peace be
upon you.
