Saying Salām During Congregation and Its Reply in Prayer
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 160
Question:
If a congregational prayer is in progress and someone arrives late, should he say “al-salāmu ʿalaykum” or join silently? If he says salām, how should those already engaged in prayer respond to it?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If people are already in prayer—whether individually or in congregation—and another person arrives afterwards, he may say al-salāmu ʿalaykum. It is established that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in prayer and a Companion رضي الله عنه arrived later, he would greet the Prophet ﷺ with salām.
◈ However, raising the voice excessively while giving salām is not appropriate. The Qurʾān states:
﴿إِنَّ أَنْكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ﴾ (Luqmān: 19)
“Indeed, the most unpleasant of sounds is the voice of donkeys.”
Reply of the One in Prayer:
A person already in prayer cannot respond verbally with “wa ʿalaykum al-salām.”
He may, however, reply through a gesture, such as with his hand, as this is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
◈ Abū Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Radd al-Salām fī al-Ṣalāh
◈ Tirmidhī – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī al-Ishārah fī al-Ṣalāh
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
