✍ Author: Dr. Muhammad Ziya-ur-Rahman A‘zami رحمه الله
It is not permissible to initiate Salam to a disbeliever. This ruling is based on the narration from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
❝ Do not greet the Jews and the Christians with Salam before they greet you. If you meet any of them on the road, force them to walk on the narrowest part of it. ❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2167/13]
Similarly, Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
❝ When the People of the Book greet you with Salam, then say: وَعَلَيْكُمْ (And upon you). ❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth no. 6258; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2163/6]
According to the above narrations, one should respond to the Salam of the People of the Book by saying:
”وَعَلَيْكُمْ“
(“And upon you [be the same]”).
However, there is no harm in asking about the condition of a disbeliever beforehand, with phrases such as:
❀ This is permissible when needed, and a group of scholars has explicitly stated this. Among them is Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah.
[Al-Lajnah ad-Dā’imah: 11123]
❖ Prohibition of Initiating Salam to a Disbeliever
It is not permissible to initiate Salam to a disbeliever. This ruling is based on the narration from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
❝ Do not greet the Jews and the Christians with Salam before they greet you. If you meet any of them on the road, force them to walk on the narrowest part of it. ❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2167/13]
Similarly, Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
❝ When the People of the Book greet you with Salam, then say: وَعَلَيْكُمْ (And upon you). ❞
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth no. 6258; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2163/6]
❖ Permissibility of Inquiring About a Disbeliever's Condition
According to the above narrations, one should respond to the Salam of the People of the Book by saying:
”وَعَلَيْكُمْ“
(“And upon you [be the same]”).
However, there is no harm in asking about the condition of a disbeliever beforehand, with phrases such as:
- How are you?
- How was your morning?
- How was your evening?
❀ This is permissible when needed, and a group of scholars has explicitly stated this. Among them is Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah.
[Al-Lajnah ad-Dā’imah: 11123]
