Is it permissible to say as-salamu alaykum to (to greet) non-Muslims, unbelievers?

How should we understand the hadith "Do not greet them"?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Salam (greeting) was imposed to express love and to strengthen spiritual connections. The connection between Muslims and non-Muslims is broken due to unbelief; therefore, it is meaningless to say salam to unbelievers.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“Do not greet Jews and Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the road, force him to go to the narrowest part of it without harassing them.” (Muslim, Salam 13; Abu Dawud, Adab, Edeb 138; Tirmidhi, Isti‘dhan 12; Ibn Majah, Adab 13)

Scholars have different views regarding the issue. According to what Imam Nawawi says, it is haram to say salam to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) according to the majority of Shafii scholars, but it is permissible to respond to their greetings. And it should be short in the form of “wa alaykum (and to you)”. According to some other scholars, it is makruh, not haram, to initiate greeting. That is, the prohibition in the hadith expresses karaha. However, Nawawi holds the view that it is haram.

According to some scholars, it is permissible to greet them and to respond to their greeting -if it is due to a necessity or a reason. Alqama and Nahai hold this view. Imam Awzai says that it is permissible as follows:

“If I greet them, some righteous people greeted them before me; if I do not greet them, some righteous people did not greet them before me.” (Nawawi, the explanation of the relevant verse)

When we consider these different views, we can use a different expression (for instance hello) instead of saying as-salamu alaykum. If the person can think that you do not say salam to him deliberately and feel resentful, you can prefer to act in accordance with the view of the scholars who regard it permissible to say salam.

When somebody from the People of the Book says salam, it is necessary to say "wa alaykum" in return. (Bukhari,  Isti‘dhan 22, Murtaddin 4; Muslim, Salam 6–9)

It is possible to greet non-Muslims by saying "good day, good evening, hello" without using the word "salam" when necessary.

Those living in a Muslim country can say salam to a person if they do not know that he is an unbeliever. If he does not respond to the salam, the one saying salam can respond himself by saying "wa alaykum salam". He is not held responsible when the unbeliever does not respond to his salam.

It is necessary to view the act of forcing the unbeliever to go to the narrowest part of the road as a deed aiming to show the dignity of Islam. It can be different based on time and place. In the past, everything used to be evaluated in terms of religion; therefore, such an act could have reflected the solemnity and dignity of a Muslim.

In the global world, other universal rules and etiquette, not religion, are in the foreground today. To act like that toward an unbeliever would be a sign of rudeness and lack of manners, not dignity and solemnity. Imam Ghazali states the following:

“If a sunnah becomes the sign, custom and symbol of fasiq people, we decree that it should be abandoned.” (Ihya, II/270)

Following this great imam, we say,

“If forcing the unbeliever to go to the narrowest part of the road is regarded as a sign, custom and symbol of rude, unwise and ill-mannered people, we decree that it is necessary to abandon this act.”

Questions on Islam