The Ruling of Greeting a Muqallid with Salam in Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 01, Page 531
❖ Question
The People of the Book have been prohibited from being greeted with Salam. Now, can a Muqallid be greeted with Salam, since Taqleed Shakhsi is considered shirk?
❖ Answer
Alhamdulillah, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
Accepting any statement or opinion that contradicts the Book and Sunnah is called Taqleed. If such a person presents himself as a believer, then his ruling is the same as that of the People of the Book, provided that after Muḥammad Rasūlullāh ﷺ he does not consider anyone else to be a Prophet or Messenger.
Allah Almighty has said:
﴿اِتَّخَذُوْآ اَحْبَارَہُمْ وَرُہْبَانَہُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اﷲِ﴾
(At-Tawbah: 31, Para 10)
“They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.”
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب