Question: Asalaamu Alaikum Shaykh, Please can you tell me what is the most appropriate way to greet a Non Muslim who may not believe in Allah and His Messenger (SAW)? Does the same rule apply to Christians and Jews? Jazaak Allah Shaykh, Hanif Masood (Glasgow)

Answer: I would like to start off by looking at the definition of Salaam. The word Salaam is one of the names of Allah Taa'la and it is included in the Islamic greeting, such as Assalaamu Alaikum. The words can be extended to Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuh.'

This is a distinctive greeting for Muslims as is Shalom for the Jews; so therefore, it is impermissible to instigate the greeting of Salaam to non-Muslims. The Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), said:

"Do not initiate the greeting of Salaam to a Jew or a Christian…" (Al-Muslim).

But, one MUST also have this verse of the Holy Qur'an in mind too:

"When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it or (at least) return it equally." (Holy Qur'an: An-Nisa': 86)

With this the Muslim should respond in the manner prescribed by the laws of Shari'ah, by giving a similar response. In another Hadith it has also been found that if you greet non-Muslims, instead of saying Assalaamu Alaikum you should say Assalaamu 'alaa Manittaba 'al Hudaa, (peace and blessings on he who follows the right path).

When the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) sent letters to the Roman and Persian empires inviting them to Islam, He wrote this greeting at the beginning of the letters. This is considered a Sunnah by many eminent Scholars of Islam.

However, if a non-Muslim greets you first then it is NOT always clear whether s/he has said "As-Saamu Alaikum" - meaning, may death be upon you - (this was often said to the Holy Prophet by the enemies of Islam at it's early stages), or whether s/he has said "Assalaam"; so to this then we should respond by saying, "Wa Alaikum" (and upon you). Some scholars even go as far as saying that it is not permissible for us to greet them first even with words such as Ahlan wa Sahlan (welcome), Marhaban (hello) and so on using the Arabic language, because it is like initiating the greeting of salaams with them. (Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 3/33).

However, one may use the English language to return their greetings such as, 'Good Morning', etc, in a most professional and polite manner, as these are the core teachings of Islam.

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA'LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)