Question:
Assalamualaikum. It is known that we are prohibited from giving salam with the utterance of “Assalamualaikum” to non-Muslims. However, what is the ruling of giving salam to a group of Muslims and non-Muslims such as in restaurants or other public places?
Hope for an explanation from you. Thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Malaysia is a multi-cultural country. We live in a multi-racial, religion and ethnicities country which is unique to the Malaysian lifestyle. Thus, the implementation of the concept of Fiqh al-Ta’ayush along with the understanding is our greatest endeavor in building a civilization that is highly regarded in the eyes of the world.
The issues related to giving/offering salam have been discussed in our previous article:
- Irsyad al-Hadith Series 53: The Utterance of Salam: The Hadith and Fiqh. For further reading you can access the article through the following link: https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-al-hadith/1158-irsyad-al-hadith-siri-ke-53-ucapan-salam-hadith-dan-feqahnya
According to the above issue, there is a hadith from the Prophet PBUH which restricts the Muslim ummah from offering salam by uttering “Assalamualaikum” to the non-Muslims. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا تَبْدَؤُوا اَلْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى بِالسَّلَامِ
“Do not initiate the saluting of Jews and Christians (when you meet them),”
Sahih Muslim (1905)
Answering the above issue, the ruling of giving salam to a group of Muslims and non-Muslims is permissible. This is in line with an incident from the actions of the Prophet PBUH himself. In a hadith narrated by Usamah bin Zaid RA, he said:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكِبَ حِمَارًا عَلَيْهِ إِكَافٌ تَحْتَهُ قَطِيفَةٌ فَدَكِيَّةٌ وَأَرْدَفَ وَرَاءَهُ أُسَامَةَ وَهُوَ يَعُودُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ فِي بَنِي الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْخَزْرَجِ وَذَاكَ قَبْلَ وَقْعَةِ بَدْرٍ حَتَّى مَرَّ بِمَجْلِسٍ فِيهِ أَخْلاَطٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ عَبَدَةِ الأَوْثَانِ وَالْيَهُودِ فِيهِمْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ وَفِي الْمَجْلِسِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَلَمَّا غَشِيَتِ الْمَجْلِسَ عَجَاجَةُ الدَّابَّةِ خَمَّرَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُبَىٍّ أَنْفَهُ بِرِدَائِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لاَ تُغَبِّرُوا عَلَيْنَا . فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ وَقَفَ فَنَزَلَ فَدَعَاهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُرْآنَ…
The Prophet (ﷺ) rode a donkey. It had on it a saddle under which was a mattress made at Fadak (a place near Medina). Behind him he seated Usama. He was going to the street of Banu Harith al-Khazraj to inquire after the health of Sa'd b. Ubada This happened before the Battle of Badr. (He proceeded) until he passed by a mixed company of people in which were Muslims, polytheists, idol worshippers and the Jews and among them were 'Abdullah b. Ubayy and 'Abdullah b. Rawaha. When the dust raised by the hoofs of the animal spread over the company, 'Abdullah b. Ubayy covered his nose with his mantle and said: Do not scatter the dust over us (Not minding this remark), the Prophet (ﷺ) greeted them, stopped, got down from his animal, invited them to Allah, and recited to them the Qur'an.
Sahih Muslim (1798)
Imam al-Nawawi said that if in a group or event consisting of Muslims and non-Muslims, then it is permissible to initiate giving salam (greeting) to them with the intention of giving salam to the Muslims. (See al-Minhaj Syarh al-Nawawi ‘ala Muslim, 12/157)
According to Imam al-Mawardi in his book (See al-Hawi al-Kabir, 14/148), two opinions are presented:
- It is permissible to give salam to non-Muslims because the utterance of salam is among the manners and sunnah. Thus, surely the Muslims are encouraged to give salam with the utterance of “Asslamualaika” with a singular utterance and not plural utterance “Assalamualaikum” just like the utterance to other Muslims to differentiate the Muslims from the non-Muslims.
- It is prohibited to give salam to the non-Muslims until they (the non-Muslims) initiates it first. This is according to the hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
إِنِّي رَاكِبٌ غَدًا إِلَى يَهُودَ، فَلاَ تَبْدَأُوهُمْ بِالسَّلاَمِ، فَإِذَا سَلَّمُوا عَلَيْكُمْ فَقُولُوا: وَعَلَيْكُمْ
"I will ride to the Jews tomorrow. Do not give them the greeting first. If they greet you, then say, 'and on you.'"
Sahih al-Bukhari (1102) in al-Adab al-Mufrad
Surely, the Prophet PBUH is the best of example in terms of qudwah and uswah and it is obligated for every individual who declares himself a Muslim to follow the Prophet PBUH’s ways. The Prophet PBUH has shown a clear way of the life of co-existence with other religions (ta’ayush). By following the actions and examples of the Prophet PBUH, it will surely build a harmonious and peaceful life between the Muslims and non-Muslims. Thus, a country as described by Allah SWT will be built. Allah SWT states in the Quran:
بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ
“A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."
Surah Saba (15)
Conclusion
According to the above discussion, we are inclined to state that it is prohibited to give salam to the non-Muslims. However, if it is a group consisting of non-Muslims and Muslims, then it is permissible to give salam to the group according to the action of the Prophet PBUH. At the same time, the intention should be that the salam is intended to the Muslims in the group.
Lastly, we pray that this explanation would give us understanding in living our lives according to the true shariah. Amin.