Greeting of Peace and Non-Muslims

“Once, a Jewish person went in the presence of the Messenger of Allah while ‘A’ishah was with him. The Jewish person said, ‘Sam ‘Alaykum instead of ‘ Salamun ‘Alaykum. ’ The Messenger of Allah said, Alaykum. ’ Then another Jewish person came and said the same thing as the one before and the Messenger of Allah responded just as before. Then a third Jewish person came. He also said what the other two had said before and the Messenger of Allah responded just as that to the other two before. ‘A’ishah became angry and said, Alaykum al-Sam (wrath and condemnation) O Jewish group, brethren of monkeys and swine.’ The Messenger of Allah said to her, ‘O ‘A’ishah, if name-calling were to appear with a shape and form it would have a very evil shape. Wherever gentleness is placed it beautifies it and removing it is only to make it despised. ’ “‘A’ishah then asked, ‘O the Messenger of Allah, did you not hear their words: ’al-Sam Alaykuml’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘I heard them but did you not note what I said? I said, ‘Alaykum’. Whenever a Muslim offers you the greeting of peace say, ‘ Salamun ‘Alaykum,’ but when a non-Muslim says something in their manners, just say, Alaykum’, meaning the same to you.’”

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not initiate the offering of the greeting of peace to people of the Book, but if they offered just say, “wa ‘Alaykum’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about Jewish, Christians and pagans’ greetings to one sitting, how should he respond? The Imam said, ‘He will say, ‘ ‘Alaykum’”

“When a Jew, Christian or a pagan greets you with peace just say, ‘ ‘Alayka’ meaning, ‘the same to you.’”

“Once abu Jahl along with a people from Quraysh went to abu Talib and said, ‘Your cousin has offended us and has harmed our idols, call him and command him to stop bothering our gods and we will stop bothering his Lord.’ “The Imam said, ‘Abu Talib sent for the Messenger of Allah. He was called and he came. He did not see in the house but pagans and he said, ‘(I offer) greetings of peace to those who follow guidance.’ He sat down and abu Talib informed him of what the people had said. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘What if I instruct them with a word of goodness that will be better for them than this and with which they can rule the Arabs and subdue their stiff necks?’ Abu Jahl then asked, ‘What is that word?’ The Messenger of Allah advised him to say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’ They placed their fingers in their ears and fled saying, ‘We have not heard anything like this in other religions. This is only something falsely invented.’ Allah, the Most High, then sent this: ‘Sad. I swear by the Quran, which is full of reminders of Allah (that you are a Messenger) (38:1). In fact, the unbelievers are the ones who are boastful and quarrelsome (38:2). How many ancient generations did We destroy? (On facing Our torment) they cried out for help, but it was too late for them to escape.’ (38:3) ‘It seems strange to the pagans that a man from their own people should come to them as a prophet. The unbelievers have said, ‘He is only a lying magician’ (38:4). They ask, ‘Has he condemned all other gods but One? This is certainly strange.’ (38:5) ‘A group of the pagans walked out of a meeting with the Prophet and told the others, ‘Let us walk away. Be steadfast in the worship of your gods. This man wants to dominate you (38:6). We have heard nothing like this in the latest religion. This is only his own false invention.”” (38:7)

‘‘In response to a Jew or Christian You should say, ‘ Salam ’, meaning peace be upon us or whoever deserves it.”

‘‘Once I asked abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) ‘If I needed to visit a Christian physician, can I offer the greeting of peace and pray for him?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, but your prayer will not benefit him.’”

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) ‘If 1 needed to visit a Christian physician, can I offer him the greeting of peace and pray for him?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, but your prayer will not benefit him.’”

“It was asked from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘How do I pray for a Jew or a Christian?’ He had said, ‘Say, “May Allah grant you blessing in this world.’””

“About shaking hands with a Jew or a Christian he had said, ‘Shake hands with them from behind clothes and if you shook their hand without clothes then you must wash your hands.”’

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (as), ‘What should I do if I meet a tax paying non-Muslim and he shakes my hand?’ He replied, ‘Wipe it with soil or against a wall.’ I asked, ‘What about one who is a nasibi (someone who hates the Ahlul Bayt)?‘ He said, ‘Wash it (your hand).”’

“About a man who had shaken hand with Majusi (Zoroastrian), the Imam said, ‘He must wash it but he does not need to perform wuzu again.’”