The people of dhimmah and initiating the greeting

Kurayb said that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) wrote a letter to a man from the People of the Book, and in it he wrote the greeting to him: 'As-salamu alayka' (Peace be upon you).

Mansur said that Ibrahim said: "When one of you writes to a Jew or a Christian concerning some need, he should begin with the greeting of peace."

And Mujahid said: "Write the greeting in this way: 'As-salamu ala man ittaba'a al-huda' (Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance)."

Awn bin Abdullah said: Muhammad bin Ka'b asked Umar bin Abd al-Aziz about being the first to greet the protected non-Muslims (dhimmis). He said: "They are to be answered with the greeting, and you should not be the first to greet them." I said: "And what do you yourself say?" He said: "There is no harm in your also being the first to greet them." I said: "Why?" He said: "Because of the saying of Allah, the Lord of Might: 'So overlook them and say: Peace. Soon they will come to know.' [Surah Az-Zukhruf: 89]"

Muhammad bin Ziyad al-Alhani and Shurahbil bin Muslim both said that Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) would not pass by a Muslim, a Jew or a Christian without being the first to give him the greeting of peace.

Ibn Ajlan said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Fadalah bin Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him), all of them, used to be the first to give the greeting of peace to the polytheists.

Abu Isa said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, it is part of the foundation of humility that when you meet someone, you are the first to give the greeting of peace."

Imam al-Sha'bi said: Abu Burdah wrote a letter to a protected non-Muslim (dhimmi) and greeted him. He was asked about this: "Why did you greet him?" He said: "Indeed, he was the first to give the greeting."