Salaam o alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

I had a question and was hoping if anyone knew anything about it.
I've heard that if a non-muslim ever says 'salaam o alaikum' to us muslims, we shouldnt reply with a complete 'alaikum salaam' but only say 'alaikum'.

I have so far not found anything in the hadiths regarding this.
Does this have any basis in sunnah?

JazakAllah

Alaikum Salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

One should use the greeting, Assalamu ala man ittaba’a al-huda (May peace be upon those who follow true guidance)

See here: http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/salam1.htm

Assalam o alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

JazakAllahu Khairun brother. I found the hadith in bukhari as well.

Alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

Is this true only if we are in an Arabic speaking country?

Koran 25:63. And the servants of Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!'

Koran 28:55. And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say, 'To us our deeds, and to you yours, peace be to you, we seek not the ignorant'.

Koran 19:47. Abraham said (To his mushrik father), 'Peace be on thee, I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness, for He is to me Most Gracious'.

Koran 43:89. But turn away from them, and say 'Peace!' But soon shall they know!


Allah says in the above verses, that you can give Salaam to the Kufaar. Its true that its narrated in Saheeh Muslim, not to give Salaam first. That was said because you don't know how they will respond to you. If they say, 'Asalamu Alaikom' you can say, 'Walaikom' according to the prophet. You can even say 'Walaikom Salaam Warahmatullah' according to Ibn Qayum and other scholars. But the prophet said that we have to say, 'Walaikom' because sometimes they said, 'Asamu Alaikom' which means, 'Death be upon you' so the prophet said that we have to say, 'Walaikom (And upon you)'. Other scholars said that if you do Dawa, you can greet them with Salaam Alaikom. How do you want them to become muslim, if you don't wish them peace? So Insha'Allah, you understand what i mean.

Allah knows best

Salaam o alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

JazakAllahu Khairun brother!
Its clear now.

JazakAllah again..

Alaikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

salaam,

jazakAllah for the information brother. i wasnt sure either...

wassalam

I think if we start using arabic greetings to non-Muslims (in the USA) then we'll get strange looks, and appear odd. I don't wish to add to the negative image some already hold about Islam.:sister: