When a <i>dhimmi</i> writes and gives the greeting, he is answered
Abu 'Uthman an-Nahdi said, "Abu Musa wrote to a Persian grandee
and greeted him in his letter. He was asked, 'Do you greet him when he
is an unbeliever?' He replied, 'He wrote to me and greeted me, so I have
answered him.'"
Do not initiate the <i>salam</i> with <i>dhimmis</i>
Abu Basra al-Ghifari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "I will ride to the Jews tomorrow. Do not
give them the greeting first. If they greet you, then say, 'and on you.'"
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ عَنْ مَرْثَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصْرَةَ الْغِفَارِيِّ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ إِنِّي رَاكِبٌ غَدًا إِلَى يَهُودَ فَلاَ تَبْدَأُوهُمْ بِالسَّلاَمِ فَإِذَا سَلَّمُوا عَلَيْكُمْ فَقُولُوا وَعَلَيْكُمْ
Hadith 1103
Sahih — Al-Albani
Do not initiate the <i>salam</i> with <i>dhimmis</i>
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "Do not give the People of the Book the greeting
first. Force them to the narrowest part of the road."
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُهَيْلٌ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لاَ تَبْدَأُوهُمْ بِالسَّلاَمِ وَاضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلَى أَضْيَقِ الطَّرِيقِ
Hadith 1104
Sahih — Al-Albani
A person greeting a <i>dhimmi</i> with a gesture
'Alqama said, "'Abdullah used to greet the Persian grandees with
a gesture."
Anas said, "A Jew passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, saying, 'Peace be upon you.' His Companions returned the
salam.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The Jew said, 'Poison (sam) be upon you.'
He caught hold of the Jew who admitted it.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Answer him
with what he said.'"
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ مَرَّ يَهُودِيٌّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَرَدَّ أَصْحَابُهُ السَّلاَمَ فَقَالَ قَالَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأُخِذَ الْيَهُودِيُّ فَاعْتَرَفَ قَالَ رُدُّوا عَلَيْهِ مَا قَالَ
Hadith 1106
Sahih — Al-Albani
How to answer <i>dhimmis</i>
'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of the Jews greets you and
says, 'Poison be upon you (as-samu 'alaykum),' say, 'And on you.'"
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ السَّامُ عَلَيْكَ فَقُولُوا وَعَلَيْكَ
Hadith 1107
Hasan — Al-Albani
How to answer <i>dhimmis</i>
Ibn 'Abbas said, "Return the greeting to whomever it is, Jew,
Christian, or Magian. That is because Allah says, 'When you are greeted
with a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it.' (4:86)"
The greeting to the gathering which includes both Muslims and idolaters
Usama ibn Zayd related that one day the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, was riding on a donkey on a straw saddle covered
by a blanket from Fadak. Usama ibn Zayd was riding behind him. He was on
his way to visit Sa'd ibn 'Ubada. He passed by a meeting which included
'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul - before the enemy of Allah had become
Muslim. The gathering contained a mixture of Muslims, associaters and idolaters.
He greeted them.
'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas related that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb sent him
to Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, and he called for the letter of the
Messenger of Allah which Dihya had brought to the governor of Busra, who
in turn passed it on to Heraclius. He read it out, saying, 'In the name
of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, from Muhammad, the slave of
Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be
upon the one who follows guidance. I call you to Islam. If you become Muslim,
you will be safe and Allah will double your reward. If you turn away, then
you incur the wrong action of your subjects. "O People of the Book!
Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you (to His
words) Bear witness that we are Muslims."
(3:54)'"
When the People of the Book say, "Poison be upon you"
Jabir said, "Some of the Jews greeted the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, by saying, 'Poison be upon you (as-Samu 'alaykum)'
and the Prophet (ﷺ) replied, 'And on you.' 'A'isha, may Allah be pleased with
her, said angrily, 'Didn't you hear what they said?' The Prophet (ﷺ) replied,
'Yes, and I answered them. What I said about them will be accepted and
what they said about me will not be accepted.'"
The People of the Book are forced to the narrowest part of the road
See 1103.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَلاَ تَبْدَأُوهُمْ بِالسَّلاَمِ وَاضْطَرُّوهُمْ إِلَى أَضْيَقِهَا
Hadith 1112
Hasan — Al-Albani
How to supplicate for a <i>dhimmi</i>
'Uqba ibn 'Amir al-Juhani passed by a man who looked like a Muslim
who greeted him. 'Uqba answered him, saying, "And on you and the mercy
of Allah and his blessings." His slave said to him, "He is a Christian."
'Uqba got up and followed him until he caught up to him. He said, "The
mercy of Allah and His blessings are for the believers, but may Allah make
your life long and give you much wealth and many children."
Abu Musa said, "The Jews used to sneeze in the presence in the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hoping that he would
say to them, 'May Allah have mercy on you,' but he used to say, 'May Allah
guide you and out your affairs in order.'"
وَعَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ دَيْلَمٍ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ كَانَ الْيَهُودُ يَتَعَاطَسُونَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللَّهُ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
Hadith 1115
Hasan — Al-Albani
When someone greets a Christian whom he does not recognize
'Abdu'r-Rahman said, "Ibn 'Umar passed by a Christian who greeted
him and Ibn 'Umar returned the greeting He was told that the man was a
Christian. When he learned that, he went back to him and said, 'Give me
back my greeting.'"
When someone says, "So-and-so sends you his greetings"
'A'isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said to her, "Jibril sends you the greeting." She replied, "And
peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَامِرًا يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهَا جِبْرِيلُ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكِ السَّلامَ فَقَالَتْ وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ