If it is not known whether a person is a Muslim or a kaafir, can we say salaam to him?
Question If I meet a person and I do not know whether he is a kaafir or a Muslim, should I say salaam to him or return his greeting or not? Praise be to Allah. It was reported in the hadeeth that you should say salaam to those you know and those you do not…
Question
whether he is a kaafir or a Muslim, should I say salaam to him or return his greeting or
not?
Praise be to Allah.
It was reported in the hadeeth that you should say
salaam to those you know and those you do not
But at that time the People of the Book were distinct
from the Muslims in their dress and appearance, and they were not allowed to resemble
Muslims. But in these times, unfortunately, many Muslims look like them, and we can no
longer tell the difference between a Muslim and a Christian. Everyone – except for those
whom Allaah wills – looks the same in dress, in being clean-shaven, in wearing
nothing on their heads, or wearing western-style caps, so the matter is more confusing. If
someone who looks like the mushrikeen says salaam to you, say “Wa
‘alaykum,” and do not initiate the greeting, because of the uncertainty about
him. If he objects and tells you off, then apologize to him. You had reason to act as you
did, because you did know whether he was a Muslim or a Christian, because he is not
dressing as a Muslim and prefers the dress of the Christians and others. Tell him that
“whoever imitates a people is one of them”
