As a non Muslim, when initiating greetings to Muslim believers, am I permitted to greet you first with asalam walaikum? I am under the impression that when a Muslim grrets a non Muslim they would initiate the greeting takbir, but if a non Muslim initiates the greeting of asalam walaikum then the Muslim believe is permitted to respong to the non Muslim with walaikum asalam. Also, are Muslims offended when non Muslims greet them traditionally?
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Hi Kathryn,
You post has three parts:
- How the Muslims should greet non-Muslims.
- How the non-Muslims should greet Muslims.
- What if a non-Muslim greets Muslims in Islamic way.
There is no basis that Muslims shall greet non-Muslims with Takbir (Allahu Akbar). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has told Muslims not to greet Jews and Christians first based on a hadith quoted below:
Now this means that Muslims should not greet non-Muslims with Islamic greeting. However, they can greet with non-Muslim greetings such as "Hi" etc.
How the non-Muslims should greet Muslims:
It is not obligatory upon non-Muslims to greet Muslims in a traditional Muslim way such as Assalam O Alaium or Salam.
Muslims should not be offended if non-Muslims greet them with non-Islamic greetings.
What if a non-Muslim greets Muslims in Islamic way:
Now if a non-Muslim greets a Muslim with a traditional Islamic greeting then there are two views:
- It is obligatory for Muslims to greet them back with Islamic greeting based on following Quranic verse:
- Second view in based on some hadiths. According to this view Muslims can greet back with "Wa Alikum (upon you as well)". Hadith is quoted below for reference:
- It was narrated from Abu 'Abdur-Rahman Al Juhani that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said:"I am riding to the Jews tomorrow. Do not initiate the greeting with them, and if they greet you, then say: Wa 'alaikum (and also upon you)". [Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3699] https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/33/43
So You may expect two responses from Muslims when you greet them in Islamic way and both are based on the hadiths I quoted above. For more details you may refer to the links below:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/6583/how-should-we-return-the-greeting-of-salaam-from-a-non-muslim
http://www.virtualmosque.com/islam-...aamreplying-salaam-bynurideen-lemu-an-nigeri/
And Allah knows the best!
I hope that you find it helpful. Thanks for taking time to ask these questions.
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/6583/how-should-we-return-the-greeting-of-salaam-from-a-non-muslim
http://www.virtualmosque.com/islam-...aamreplying-salaam-bynurideen-lemu-an-nigeri/
And Allah knows the best!
I hope that you find it helpful. Thanks for taking time to ask these questions.
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I want to be respectful to the fullest of all people and their beliefs. I wish peace upon all my brother's and sister's in humanity. I deeply and profoundly appreciate your taking the time to educate me properly. It truly means a great deal to me that we as humans, though believing in different faiths and versions of the devine and holy creator that we still find time to be kind and loving to each other. Love is the true path to peace. Salam
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السلام عليكم
The link to IslamQA doesn’t mention gesturing as a way of responding to non-Muslims. Gesturing can be used to respond to someone’s salaam whilst one is praying, and in certain other scenarios. As for replying to non-Muslims when they greet Muslims with salaam, then I am not aware of gesturing being used for that purpose. And Allah Knows best.
HabibUrrehman said:
The link to IslamQA doesn’t mention gesturing as a way of responding to non-Muslims. Gesturing can be used to respond to someone’s salaam whilst one is praying, and in certain other scenarios. As for replying to non-Muslims when they greet Muslims with salaam, then I am not aware of gesturing being used for that purpose. And Allah Knows best.
Wa Alaikum,
You are welcome sister.
And have you studied about Islam?
You are welcome sister.
True peace only comes through submission to our creator and doing what He has told us to do and keep away from anything what He has told us not to.
Can I ask what you believe in?And have you studied about Islam?
Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh Brother Muhammad,
The link from IslamQA was more supportive of the first view which says that we should respond to greeting of Salam to non-Muslims in a similar or better greetings.
I just edited my response and added one more link for reference which has more details on this topic and have discussed the difference of opinions in madahibs. You are right that gesturing of the hand to answer Islamic greetings is applicable to only few scenarios and does not apply to answering the non-Muslims. Thanks for the correction. I have removed that portion from my previous post for clarity.
Ma'aSalaam
Thats what Muslims believe as well and is in fact fundamental to Muslim's belief.
The reason I asked you this question is because this is the key to differenictae between truth and false.
I hope you will have time to read Quran and compare the message of Quran to other belief systems. Truth will stand out. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about Islam.
May God open your heart and guide you to the truth. Ameen!
I will take the time to read and study the Quran. If I have any further questions I will not hesitate to bring them here, where I find kind and patient direction from your members. Again, many thanks to all who have taken time to respond. The blessings of God be upon you all.
May Peace and Blessing of God be upon you as well Sister!