Fatwa ID: 07985
Answered by : Molana Sibghat Ullah
Question:
It’s often said that if a non-Muslim says As Salam u Alaikum to a Muslim, the reply should be Wa A Laikum. The evidence presented for this is the Hadith in which it is mentioned that Jews used to greet the Prophet and his companions by saying As Saamu Alaikum. Is this a correct reasoning? Obviously, one is said with evil intentions and by twisting the word while the other is said to show respect towards diversity and Islamic culture. Is there some other evidence for this ruling?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When the people of the Book greet you, respond with: ‘Wa ‘alaikum’ (And upon you)[i]”.
In Quran when Musa and Haroon (peace be upon them) went to pharaoh they said:
وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
And peace be upon the one who is guided[ii], and from here scholars have concluded that they can say to non-muslims: –
وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
And peace be upon the one who is guided.
Hope this answers the question.
Only Allah knows best. Written by Molana Sibghat Ullah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham
[i] Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Ibn maja, Book of greeting, Chapter: Greeting Non-Muslims and the Prohibition of Taking Initiative in Doing So.
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ”إذا سلم عليكم أهل الكتاب فقولوا: وعليكم ((متفق عليه))
[ii] Sura Ta ha, Ayat 47
فَأْتِيَاهُ فَقُولَآ إِنَّا رَسُولَا رَبِّكَ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَلَا تُعَذِّبْهُمْ ۖ قَدْ جِئْنَـٰكَ بِـَٔايَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَٱلسَّلَـٰمُ عَلَىٰ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
So go to him and say, ‘Indeed we are both messengers from your Lord, so let the Children of Israel go with us, and do not oppress them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And salvation will be for whoever follows the guidance.
