Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah

Replying to the salaam of a Kafir

· 23 Jumada I 1435 AH1 min readFatwa 28652English

Question

Some time non muslim brothers used say Salam to us; so can we reply them as
"walekumussalam wa hidayatullah" ( may Allah SWT give you hidayat) or any similar words (please suggest)

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

If a non-Muslim gives Salam then it is permissible for a Muslim to reply with the words "وعليك" (and upon you). However, it is impermissible to initiate Salam with a non-Muslim.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Saleem Ibn Sajawal Khan

Bradford, UK

Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

[1] إذا سلم اليهودي أو النصراني أو اليهودي علي المسلم ، قال محمد رحمه الله تعالى يقول المسلم إلي الذمي وعليك ينوي بذلك السلام لحديث مرفوع إلي النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "إذا سلموا عليكم فردوا عليهم ". وإنما يكره أن يبتدئهم بالسلام. [فتاوى قاضيخان ج 3 ص327 قديمي كتب خانه]

[رد المحتار ج 6 ص 412 سعيد]

Answered by
Saleem Ibn Sajawal Khan
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/28652
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-28652

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