A man writing to the People of the Book: how he writes

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) wrote a letter to a man from the People of the Book and wrote: 'As-salamu alayk' (Peace be upon you).

Mansur (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I asked Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) and Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) how one should write to the ahl al-dhimmah. Mujahid said: Write to them: 'As-salamu ala man ittaba'a al-huda' (Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance). And Ibrahim said: He should write: 'Salamun alayk' (Peace be upon you).

And Ibrahim said: 'Salamun alayk' (Peace be upon you).

Abu Burdah said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote a letter to a man from the People of the Book and wrote: 'Aslim anta' (Embrace Islam). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had not yet finished writing the letter when a letter arrived from that same man. It was read out, and it contained a greeting of peace. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also returned the greeting of peace at the end of his letter.

It is narrated from Amir that Sayyiduna Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote from al-Hirah to the Marzubans of Persia as follows: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From Khalid bin al-Walid to the Marzubans of Persia: Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance."