Those who used to respond by gesturing with the hand or head

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: I asked Sayyiduna Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him): If someone greeted him (the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)) during prayer, what would he do? He said: He would gesture with his hand.

Ata said: I greeted Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) while he was standing facing the Ka'bah in prayer, and in reply he took hold of my hand.

Ata said: I greeted Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) while he was praying. He did not return my greeting, but he extended his hand towards me and shook hands with me.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When someone greets you while you are praying, return his greeting.

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I would not greet a person who is praying. Abu Mu'awiyah added: And if someone greeted me in prayer, I would return his greeting.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: If one of you is greeted during prayer, let him gesture with his hand.

Abu Mijlaz was asked: If a man is greeted during prayer, what should he do? He said: He should reply by inclining his head to the right.

Ibrahim said: If a person is greeted during prayer, he should return the greeting after he finishes. If the other has already gone, he should send the greeting after him.

Ibn Sirin said: When Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) returned from Abyssinia, he greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during prayer. He returned his greeting with a gesture of his head.

Ata bin Abi Rabah said: A man greeted Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) during prayer, so he took his hand, shook hands with him and pressed his hand.

Sufyan said: The greeting is not to be returned during prayer; rather, after finishing the prayer, if the person is near, he returns his greeting, and if he is far, he sends the greeting after him.

Abu al-Aliyah was asked what a man should do if he is greeted with salam while he is in prayer. He said: When he completes the prayer, he should return the salam to him.

Sayyiduna Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was praying. I greeted him with salam, and he returned my greeting.