Ruling on greeting a non-Muslim teacher
Question Is it permissible to greet a non-Muslim teacher in the classroom or outside? Praise be to Allah. It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not initiate the greeting to the Jews and Christians.” (Narrated by Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaam). The Jews used to pass by the…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
It was narrated that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not initiate the
greeting to the Jews and Christians.” (Narrated by Muslim, Kitaab
al-Salaam). The Jews used to pass by the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and say “Al-saam ‘alaykum”
meaning death. So the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us to say “Wa ‘alaykum
(and also to you).” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Adaab;
Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaam).
So you should not initiate the greeting, but if he greets
you and initiates the greeting, then say, “Wa ‘alaykum.” But Ibn al-Qayyim
(may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah
that if we know for sure that a kaafir has said “Al-salaamu ‘alaykum,”
then we may say, “Wa ‘alaykum al-salaam.”
