Is prayer invalidated if a person answers a greeting by gesture in prayer?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Prayer is a place of respect and surrendering. If a person says or does things that are contrary to it, he decreases its virtue and causes it to be invalidated. Therefore, when we perform this deed of worshipping with good manners, we cannot add anything to it or decrease anything. We are responsible to perform it as it is determined by the Messenger of Allah and reported to us from him.

One cannot greet a person verbally when he is in a prayer. It is not appropriate for a person to greet somebody who is performing a prayer. However, it is definite by sound hadiths that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) people answered greetings by gesture in prayer:

Ibn Umar narrates: "I asked Bilal: When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was in prayer, the believers greeted him. Did he answer their greetings? Bilal said, ‘Yes, he made a gesture with his hand." (1)

According to the narration of Ibn Umar from Suhayb, Suhayb said, "When I visited the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he was praying. I greeted him and he made a gesture; that is, he answered my greeting with a gesture."

Ibn Umar said, "I do not know exactly but I know that Suhayb said, "He made a gesture with his finger." (2)

Tirmidhi says, "In my opinion, these two hadiths are sound. In addition, it was also determined soundly in the hadith of Umm Salama about the two rak'ahs after the afternoon prayer and the hadith of Hz. Aisha and Jabir about the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) performing prayers by sitting when he was in his last illness before death that the Messenger of Allah gestured the people to sit when the people behind him stood up." (3)

The Deductions and Ijtihads of Mujtahid Imams under the Light of Hadiths:

a) According to Hanafis, if a person who is performing a prayer greets a person by mistake and says, "as-Salam" only and then remembers that he is in prayer, his prayer is invalidated.

Similarly, if a person answers a greeting when he is in prayer whether by mistake or knowingly, his prayer is invalidated. For, to greet or to answer a greeting is not like dhikr. However, if greeting is answered with the gesture of the hand or by nodding slightly or by the finger, prayer is not invalidated according to the sound view. (4)

b) According to Shafiis, to answer a greeting in prayer verbally invalidates prayer. As a matter of fact, Ata, Nahai, Ishaq and Abu Thawr hold the same view and ijtihad. (5)

c) According to Said b. Musayyab, al-Hasan and Qatada from Tabiun, it is permissible to answer a greeting verbally. (6)

The following is understood from those explanations: It is permissible to answer a greeting with the gesture of a finger.

d) According to Malikis, when Sahnun asked Ibn Qasim, "Did Imam Malik regard it makruh for a person to make a gesture in prayer to express some need?" he answered as follows: "I do not know that he regarded it makruh. I personally think it is permissible as long as the gesture is slight. As a matter of fact, it is definite that Imam Malik regards it permissible to answer a greeting with a gesture. For, the Imam said, "When a person who is performing a fard or nafilah prayer is greeted, he should answer it with the gesture of his hand or head." (7)

e) According to Hanbalis, it is permissible to greet a person who is performing a prayer. However, if he answers the greeting, his prayer is invalidated. That is, a person who is performing a prayer cannot answer a greeting verbally or by gesture. (8)

Imam Ahmad deduced based on the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud regarding the issue: Ibn Mas'ud said, "When I visited the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he was praying. I greeted him but he did not answer my greeting. After the prayer, he said, ‘God Almighty expresses His order as He wishes. He expressed His order about not talking in prayer.’ After that, he answered my greeting." (9)

As it is understood from the clear indications of the hadiths, the determinations, deductions and ijtihads of the other three madhhabs are healthier. As for the hadith, "there is no ghirar and taslim (greeting) in prayer" reported by Abu Dawud, it is about answering the greeting verbally, not by gesture. 

"Ghirar means to make something incomplete in prayer; according to the interpretation of Imam Ahmad, it also means to greet and to answer a greeting. (10)

The Decrees that are Deduced: 

1. It is permissible to greet a person who is performing a prayer. According to Hanafis and Hanbalis, it is more appropriate not to greet.

2. If a person who is performing a prayer answers a greeting verbally, his prayer is invalidated according to all madhhabs.

3. Prayer is not invalidated when a person answers a greeting with the gesture of his finger or head in prayer. (11)

Footnotes:

1- Bukhari, Jumua: 35. Muslim, Istithqa: 9. Tirmidhi, Salah:154. Nasai, Sahw: 6. Ibn Majah, Iqamah:59.
2- Abu Dawud, Salah: 166. Tirmidhi, Salah: 154. Nasai, Sahw: 6. Darimi, Salah: 94.
3- Naylul-Awtar: 2/369 
4- Majmaul-Anhur Sharhu Multaqal-Abhur: 1/119, 120
5- Ibn Qudama/al-Mughni: 1/711
6- Ibn Qudama/al-Mughni: 1/711
7- Ibn Qudama/al-Mughni: 1/711
8- al-Mudawwanatul-Kubra: 1/99
9- Ibn Qudama/al-Mughni: 1/711
10-Ibn Qudama/al-Mughni: 1/712
11-Shawkani/ Naylul-Awtar: 2/370

Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla Ahkâm Hadisleri, Uysal Kitabevi: 3/13-14.

Questions on Islam