Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Kuraib narrates that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) wrote a letter to a man from among the People of the Book: In it, he wrote the greeting to him: As-salamu alaik.

Hazrat Mansur says that Ibrahim stated: When any of you writes a letter to a Jew or a Christian regarding some need, he should initiate the greeting, and Hazrat Mujahid said: Write the greeting as follows, "Peace be upon those who follow the guidance."

Hazrat Aun bin Abdullah narrates that Hazrat Muhammad bin Ka'b asked Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz about initiating greeting (salaam) to the dhimmis (non-Muslim citizens under Muslim rule). He replied: Their greeting should be answered, but you should not initiate greeting them. I asked: What are you saying? He replied: There is no harm if you also initiate greeting them. I asked: Why? He replied: Because of the saying of Allah, the Lord of Honor. Translation: "Overlook them and say: Peace (Salaam), for soon they will know."

Hazrat Muhammad bin Ziyad Al-Alhani and Hazrat Shurahbil bin Muslim, both of these personalities state that Hazrat Abu Umamah would not pass by any Muslim, Jew, or Christian except that he would initiate the greeting of peace (salaam).

Hazrat Ibn Ujlan states that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Abu Darda, and Hazrat Fadala bin Ubaid—all these personalities used to initiate greeting (salaam) to the polytheists.

Hazrat Abu Isa says that Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Surely, the foundation of humility is that when you meet someone, you initiate the greeting of peace (salaam).

Imam Sha'bi narrates that Hazrat Abu Burdah wrote a letter to a dhimmi and greeted him with salam. He was asked about this: Why did you greet him with salam? He replied: Indeed, he was the one who initiated the salam.