Sharʿi Ruling on Greeting and Responding to an Innovator (Bidʿati)
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 532
Question:
If an innovator (bidʿati) offers salām, should his salām be answered? And is it permissible to greet an innovator with salām?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
① If the innovator is a disbeliever or a polytheist, then in reply only say “ʿAlayk” or “ʿAlaykum.”
② If the innovator is not a disbeliever or polytheist, then it is permissible to reply with “Wa ʿalayk as-salām” or “Wa ʿalaykum as-salām.”
③ Similarly, if the innovator is a disbeliever or a polytheist, one should not initiate salām to him.
Hādhā mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
