Written by: His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Salam bin Muhammad Hafizullah
Narration:
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not initiate greetings with Jews and Christians, and when you meet them on a path, force them to move to the narrower part of it.” [Muslim]
[Bulugh al-Maram: 1244]
Source: [Muslim, Book of Greetings: 13], [Bulugh al-Maram: 1244]. See also [Tuhfat al-Ashraf Musnad Abi Hurairah: 411/9].
“And to Allah belongs all honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” [63-Al-Munafiqun: 8]
Fighting the Jews and Christians is obligatory until they pay the Jizya in submission: حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
“Until they give the jizya willingly while they are humbled.” [9-At-Tawbah: 29]
To constantly remind them of their humbled status and to maintain it, Muslims are instructed not to allow them easy access on the path but to force them to the narrower part of the road.
Unfortunately, when Muslims abandoned Jihad, they also lost their dignity. How can a dominated nation force the ruling nation to move to the narrow path or refuse to greet or salute them first? Upon reflection, this Hadith does not only command not to initiate Salam or force them to the narrower path, but it also encourages Muslims to maintain their dignity, to humiliate the disbelievers, and to remain in constant resistance against them.
One of the wisdoms of greeting in Islam, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained, is to spread love:
أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم؟ أفشوا السلام بينكم
“Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread greetings of peace amongst yourselves.” [Muslim, Book of Faith: 93]
This shows that the result of Salam is mutual love, but the command regarding the disbelievers is: لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ
“Do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends.” [60-Al-Mumtahina: 1]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the Jews greet you, they say ‘As-Sam Alaikum’ (death be upon you), so respond with ‘Wa Alaikum’ (and upon you).” [Bukhari, narrated by Ibn Umar: 6257]
This shows that if the People of the Book greet with clear words of peace, we should reply with ‘Wa Alaikum As-Salam’ (and upon you be peace), especially because Allah says:
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا
“When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with something better than it or return it equally.” [4-An-Nisa: 86]
If Muslims and non-Muslims are sitting together in a gathering, Salam should be said to them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a gathering where Muslims, idolaters, and Jews were sitting together, and he greeted them. [Bukhari: 6254]
Initiating Salam with Jews and Christians is prohibited, but if they live peacefully among Muslims, it is permissible to inquire about their well-being without initiating Salam. The prohibition applies specifically to initiating Salam, not to initiating conversation.
Narration:
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not initiate greetings with Jews and Christians, and when you meet them on a path, force them to move to the narrower part of it.” [Muslim]
[Bulugh al-Maram: 1244]
Source: [Muslim, Book of Greetings: 13], [Bulugh al-Maram: 1244]. See also [Tuhfat al-Ashraf Musnad Abi Hurairah: 411/9].
Benefits:
Initiating greetings (Salam) with Jews and Christians implies honoring and respecting them, whereas respect is only due to the believers. Allah says: وَلِلَّـهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ“And to Allah belongs all honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” [63-Al-Munafiqun: 8]
Fighting the Jews and Christians is obligatory until they pay the Jizya in submission: حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
“Until they give the jizya willingly while they are humbled.” [9-At-Tawbah: 29]
To constantly remind them of their humbled status and to maintain it, Muslims are instructed not to allow them easy access on the path but to force them to the narrower part of the road.
Unfortunately, when Muslims abandoned Jihad, they also lost their dignity. How can a dominated nation force the ruling nation to move to the narrow path or refuse to greet or salute them first? Upon reflection, this Hadith does not only command not to initiate Salam or force them to the narrower path, but it also encourages Muslims to maintain their dignity, to humiliate the disbelievers, and to remain in constant resistance against them.
One of the wisdoms of greeting in Islam, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained, is to spread love:
أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم؟ أفشوا السلام بينكم
“Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread greetings of peace amongst yourselves.” [Muslim, Book of Faith: 93]
This shows that the result of Salam is mutual love, but the command regarding the disbelievers is: لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ
“Do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends.” [60-Al-Mumtahina: 1]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the Jews greet you, they say ‘As-Sam Alaikum’ (death be upon you), so respond with ‘Wa Alaikum’ (and upon you).” [Bukhari, narrated by Ibn Umar: 6257]
This shows that if the People of the Book greet with clear words of peace, we should reply with ‘Wa Alaikum As-Salam’ (and upon you be peace), especially because Allah says:
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا
“When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with something better than it or return it equally.” [4-An-Nisa: 86]
If Muslims and non-Muslims are sitting together in a gathering, Salam should be said to them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by a gathering where Muslims, idolaters, and Jews were sitting together, and he greeted them. [Bukhari: 6254]
Initiating Salam with Jews and Christians is prohibited, but if they live peacefully among Muslims, it is permissible to inquire about their well-being without initiating Salam. The prohibition applies specifically to initiating Salam, not to initiating conversation.